“Needn’t ask how you are, Miss Audrey; you’re always fit. And Miss Doris too; can’t make out how you manage.”
Doris spoke.
“We don’t manage. We have our sufferings like other folk—sometimes very unexpected ones they are. What have you in that great parcel? It does seem to be in your way; won’t you leave it in the hall?”
“Gloves! gloves! couldn’t possibly leave it in the hall. It’s a little bet I lost to Miss Eveleen over Rocketter. The Brimstone filly was giving him four pounds, it seemed to me that at the weights it was a cert—dead snip. Rocketter won the Horndean Plate, the Scratchem Cup, the Slingsbury Stakes, with the weights against him. Appeared to me down the Lingfield straight, with such a handicap, there was only one horse in it. I was wrong. Told Jim Smiff rode a ripping race—hung on to Rocketter’s tail—caught him at the distance—nosed him at the post. So Miss Eveleen wins her gloves; sure, it gives me the greatest pleasure to pay them.”
I am not an expert in racing slang, so, if there is anything wrong in the way Mr Hammond’s observations are reported I am not to blame. I only pretend to give a rudimentary impression of the general style of his conversation. It was an extraordinary thing that when Eveleen bet with him she nearly always won. Either he was careful to arrange it so, or else he knew less than he supposed, and she more. Anyhow, somehow, her horse was nearly always in front of his. A remark which Doris made seemed to convey a hint which he might or might not have considered flattering.
“It must be nice to bet with you, Mr Hammond. It ensures one having a constant gratuitous supply of little necessaries.”
“Awfully good of you to say so, Miss Doris—really. Always delighted to lose to a lady—especially when I’ve had a good run for my money—yes. Tremendous rush there seems to be on the Gaiety. Had deuce’s own business to get two stalls.”
“For to-night?”
“Yes. Miss Eveleen said she’d like to see the show—so been worrying round—yes—had to worry too; but I got ’em.”
“Eveleen is fortunate. I also should like to see the show.”