"Then you must have laid him a lump out of the sweep," said the trainer.
"Not a penny," answered Leigh.
"Then how did you work it?" asked the trainer amazed.
"I managed it after a tussle, but I can't tell you how," replied Glen.
Wagering was fast and furious at the Club. Barellan's lameness disappeared as if by magic and there were many people who thought the whole thing a fake, and of course blamed Bellshaw. He was unpopular, and made no secret that he ran his horses as he liked, without consideration for anyone. When he came into the Club he was not greeted heartily as a popular owner would have been. Hardly anyone spoke to him until one or two bookmakers asked him if he wished to back his horse.
Nick Gerard crossed over the room.
"I suppose you've persuaded Leigh to give you some of the sweep money?" he said.
"Not a fraction. It's a mean, dirty action on his part, but as the horse is so well backed I shall run him," replied Bellshaw.
"It's something out of the common for you to consider backers," said Nick. "Have you got all your money on?"
"All I want. If he hadn't gone lame I'd have had more on; it's not worth the risk now."