Lord Hartledon, vexed that any one in the neighbourhood should have waited so long for his money, said a sharp word on the score to Percival; and the latter retorted as sharply that it was no business of his.

Again Val was angry with himself, and thus gave vent to his temper.
The fact was, he had completely forgotten the trifling debt, and was as vexed as Hartledon that it should have been allowed to remain unpaid: but the man had not sent him any reminder whilst he was away.
"Pay it to-day, Marris," cried Lord Hartledon to his steward.

"I won't have this sort of thing at Calne." His tone was one of irritation--or it sounded so to the ears of his conscious brother, and Val bit his lips.

After that, throughout the morning, they maintained a studied silence towards each other; and this was observed, but was not commented on.

Val was unusually quiet altogether: he was saying to himself that he was sullen.
The starting-hour for the race was three o'clock; but long before that time the scene was sufficiently animated, not to say exciting.