"No,—I backed myself, Duchess."
"Gracious goodness—"
"But only to beat Sir Mortimer Carnaby—"
"The other favorite. Oh, ridiculous! What odds did they give you?"
"None."
"You mean—oh, dear me!—you actually backed yourself—at even money?"
"Yes, Duchess."
"But you haven't a chance, Barnabas,—not a chance! You didn't bet much, I hope?"
"Not so much as I intended, madam."
"Pray what was the sum?"
"Twenty thousand pounds."
"Not—each?"
"Yes, madam."
"Forty thousand pounds! Against a favorite! Cleone, my dear," said the Duchess, with one of her quick, incisive nods, "Cleone, this Barnabas of ours is either a madman or a fool! And yet—stoop down, sir,—here where I can see you,—hum! And yet, Cleone, there are times when I think he is perhaps a little wiser than he seems,—nothing is so baffling as simplicity, my dear! If you wished to be talked about, Barnabas, you have succeeded admirably,—no wonder all London is laughing over such a preposterous bet. Forty thousand pounds! Well, it will at least buy you notoriety, and that is next to fame."
"Indeed, I hadn't thought of that," said Barnabas.
"And supposing your horse had been lamed and you couldn't ride,—how then?"
"Why, then, I forfeit the money, madam."
Now here the Duchess frowned thoughtfully, and thereafter said "ha!" so suddenly, that Cleone started and hurried to her side.
"Dear God-mother, what is it?"
"A thought, my dear!"
"But—"
"Call it a woman's intuition if you will."
"What is your thought, dear?"
"That you are right, Cleone,—he must go—at once!"
"Go? Barnabas?"
"Yes; to London,—now—this very instant! Unless you prefer to forfeit your money, Barnabas?"
But Barnabas only smiled and shook his head.
"You would be wiser!"
"But I was never very wise, I fear," said Barnabas.
"And—much safer!"
"Oh, God-mother,—do you think there is—danger, then?"
"Yes, child, I do. Indeed, Barnabas, you were wiser and safer to forfeit your wagers and stay here with me and—Cleone!"
But Barnabas only sighed and shook his head.
"Cleone," said the Duchess, "speak to him."
So blushing a little, sighing a little, Cleone reached out her hand to Barnabas, while the Duchess watched them with her young, bright eyes.
"Oh, Barnabas, God-mother is very wise, and if—there is danger—you mustn't go—for my sake."
But Barnabas shook his head again, and taking in his strong clasp the pleading hand upon his arm, turned to the Duchess.
"Madam," said he, "dear Duchess, to-night I have found my manhood, for to-night I have learned that a man must ever choose the hardest course and follow it—to the end. To-night Cleone has taught me—many things."
"And you will—stay?" inquired the Duchess.
"I must go!" said Barnabas.
