"But, my dear friend, do you suppose I haven't heard of your beautiful horse, by 'Blue Devil' out of 'Nina'? Now, do you see? I believe I know the grandparents, too. Anyhow, you are to be congratulated on your purchase. The English trackmen are bursting with envy. To judge by that, you ought to have an immense success."
"But, for heaven's sake, how do you know all this?"
"Dear me, didn't your purchase appear in all the sporting papers?"
"Do you read those papers?"
"Surely. You see, here is the last number of the Spur, and yonder is the bound copy of the German Sporting News."
"I see; but to what purpose?"
"Oh, I'm a sporting lady, dear master. I look upon the world of horses—is that the right expression?—with benevolent interest. I hope that isn't forbidden?"
"But you never told me a word about that before!"
She blushed a little and cast her eyes down.
"Oh, before, before…. That interest didn't come until later."