Another appeared behind.

Gaston eyed the puzzled servant calmly.
"Why don't you call a groom ?" he presently said.

There was a cold gleam in his eye.
The footman shrank.
"Yessir, yessir," he said confusedly, and signalled.

The other footman came down, and made as if to take the bridle.

Gaston waved him back.
None too soon, for the horse lunged at him.
"A rub down, a pint of beer, and water and feed in an hour, and I'll come to see him myself late to-night." Jacques had loosened the saddle-bags and taken them off.