He almost declared that Coalition had lost his match because he had not been taken down to Silverbridge.
"Tifto is in a deuce of a way with you," said Dolly Longstaff to the young member.
"I know all about it," said Silverbridge, who had had an interview with his partner since the race.
"If you don't take care he'll dismiss you." Silverbridge did not care much about this, knowing that words of wisdom did not ordinarily fall from the mouth of Dolly Longstaff.

But he was more moved when his friend Tregear spoke to him.

"I wish you knew the kind of things that fellow Tifto says behind your back." "As if I cared!" "But you ought to care." "Do you care what every fellow says about you ?" "I care very much what those say whom I choose to live with me.
Whatever Tifto might say about me would be quite indifferent to me, because we have nothing in common.

But you and he are bound together." "We have a horse or two in common; that's all." "But that is a great deal.

The truth is he's a nasty, brawling, boasting, ill-conditioned little reptile." Silverbridge of course did not acknowledge that this was true.