Bricky laughed as he replied—
"I fancy you know as much as I do about them, perhaps more, especially about Black Boy."
"Was that a straight go the other morning, when Lucky Boy won?" asked Abe.
"You know Joel Kenley, and that ought to be sufficient. The trial was straight enough."
"Then you think Lucky Boy is the better of the pair?"
"He must be on that form, and the market tells the same tale," replied Bricky.
"I don't care a hang for the market, figures can be faked anyhow. You have not told me your opinion. Come, I'll give you a couple of sovs. for it, that's a professional fee."
Bricky thought there was no harm in expressing his private opinion, it would not be betraying any stable secrets, for it was well known that Joel Kenley preferred Lucky Boy. A couple of sovs. under such circumstances were not to be despised.
"I can only go by the trial," he said. "That is the safest guide, but if you want to know which of the pair is my favourite I may tell you it's Black Boy. Don't run away with the idea that he'll beat the other fellow in the Cup, although I would like to see him do it, Joel knows more about it than I do."
"You have not told me much," said Abe, "but here's a couple of sovs. You really prefer Black Boy to Lucky Boy?"