Before one o'clock, at which hour it was stated nominally that the races would commence, general opinion had formed itself,--and general opinion had nearly hit the truth. General opinion declared that the nail had been driven in wilfully,--that it had been done by Tifto himself, and that Tifto had been instigated by Captain Green. Captain Green perhaps overacted his part a little. His intimacy with the Major was well known, and yet, in all this turmoil, he kept himself apart as though he had no interest in the matter. 'I have got my little money on, and what little I have I lose,' he said in answer to inquiries. But everyone knew that he could not but have a great interest in a race, as to which the half owner of the favourite was a peculiarly intimate friend of his own. Had he come down to the stables and been seen about the place with Tifto it might have been better. As it was, though he was very quiet, his name was soon mixed up in the matter. There was one man who asserted it as a fact known to himself that Green and Villiers,--one Gilbert Villiers,--were in partnership together.
It was very well known that Gilbert Villiers would win two thousand five hundred pounds from Lord Silverbridge.
Then minute investigations was made into the betting of certain individuals. Of course there would be great plunder, and where would the plunder go? Who would get the money which poor Silverbridge would lose? It was said that one at least of the large bets made on that Tuesday evening could be traced to the same Villiers though not actually made by him. More would be learned when the settling-day should come. But there was quite enough already to show that there were many men determined to get to the bottom of it if possible.
There came upon Silverbridge in his trouble a keen sense of his position and a feeling of the dignity which he ought to support.
He clung during great part of the morning to Mr Lupton. Mr Lupton was much his senior and they had never been intimate; but now there was comfort in his society. 'I am afraid you are hit heavily,' said Mr Lupton.
'Something over seventy thousand pounds.'
'Looking at what will be your property it is of course nothing.
But if--'
'If what?'
'If you go to the Jews for it then it will become a great deal.'
'I shall certainly not do that.'
'Then you may regard it as a trifle,' said Lupton.
'No, I can't. It is not a trifle. I must tell my father. He'll find the money.'
'There is no doubt about that.'
'He will. But I feel at present that I would rather change places with the poorest gentleman I know than have to tell him. I have done with races, Lupton.'
'If so, this will have been a happy day for you. A man in your position can hardly make money by it, but he may lose so much! If a man really likes the amusement,--as I do,--and risks no more that what he has in his pocket, that may be very well.'
'At any rate I have done with it.'