Unheeding  it,  Tirrett  continued :  '  And  now.  Captain,  before
we  go  any  farther,  let  us  come  to  a  clear  understanding ;  the
matter,  I  think,  at  present  stands  thus :  I  sold  you  the  horse
for  200  guineas,  and  half  everything  he  might  win  during  the
ensuing  year ;  100  you  paid  out  of  your  Derby  winnings,  100  you
still  owe  me ;  you  next  made  a  foolish  bet,  when  you  were  half
screwed,  that  the  horse  could  perform  an  impossible  leap,  and  in
attempting  it  threw  him  down  and  lamed  him;  from  that
lameness  he  has  wonderfully  recovered — sound  I  never  expect
him  to  get ;  though,  with  care  and  management,  he  may  now
be  sold  and  trained;  but  how  are  we  to  arrange  about
terms  ? '

'  Terms,  indeed  ! '  was  the  astonished  reply.  '  Why,  I'll  pay
you  your  second  hundred  out  of  the  price  I  get  for  him ;  and
well  content  ye  should  be  with  your  good  luck, —  for  if  the  nag
had  gone  to  the  bad,  it's  more  kicks  than  ha'pence  ye'd  have
got  from  Terence  O'Brien.'

'Won't  do,  Captain,'  was  the  cool  rejoinder:  'I  must  have
the  hundred  down,  and  half  whatever  you  get  beyond.  Why,
there's  a  bill  of  thirty  pounds  from  the  "  Vet."  for  time  and


AND  ALL  THAT  CAME  OF  IT  333

medicines,  besides  the  half  share  of  the  winnings  which  I  lose
by  your  selling  him.'

The  angry  discussion  which  ensued,  and  which  ended  in
O'Brien's  obtaining  terms  slightly  more  favourable  for  himself,
we  will  not  inflict  on  the  reader ;  suffice  it  to  say  that,  ere  the
associates  parted,  all  their  differences  were  reconciled,  and
their  alliance  likely  to  be  cemented  more  firmly  than  ever,  by
their  proposed  inroad  on  the  credulity  and  cash  of  Lord  Alfred
Courtland.
