"Oh, leave them alone; they must have their say. The count has

again laid at least as much as five hundred louis on Lusignan, and

if he's wanted Nana to run to a hundred louis it's because an owner

ought always to look as if he believes in his horses."

"Oh, bosh! What the deuce does that matter to us?" shouted La

Faloise with a wave of his arms. "Spirit's going to win! Down with

A long shiver ran through the crowd, while a fresh peal from the

bell announced the arrival of the horses upon the racecourse. At