"Bet you there's war before long; it's a bigger cert than Bandmaster," said Harry.
"And I'm out of it."
"You needn't be. Join us again. You'll easily get your commission; they'll want all the men they can get, especially officers."
"If there is trouble I shall not be idle," said Alan.
"I know that, old fellow; no need to tell me that."
Something seemed to be in the air. There were many officers present and they were talking in groups of three or four. Judging by their faces it was not about racing; Alan noticed this and thought:
"It's coming, the great upheaval; Fraser's man is right. By Jove, I'll hustle, as Braund would say, when things begin to move."
The horses were going to the post and the June sun shone on the thirty bright jackets as they went past. The din in Tattersalls was deafening. In the crowded enclosure there was hardly room to move; eager backers jostled each other in their anxiety to get at the bookmakers.
Peet Craker left the rails for a moment as he saw Alan Chesney.
"I've a matter of a couple of thousand left against Bandmaster," he said.