Come along." Durfy felt rather shy at first in his grand company, especially with the consciousness of his muddy collar.

But after about half an hour in the Bodega he recovered his self-possession, and felt himself at home.
"By the way," said Mr Medlock, filling up his visitor's glass, "last time we saw you you did us nicely over that tip for the Park Races, my boy! If Alf and I hadn't been hedged close up, we should have lost a pot of money." "I'm very sorry," said Durfy.

"You see, another telegram came after the one I showed you, that I never saw; that's how it happened.

I really did my best for you." "But it's a bad job, if we pay you to get hold of the _Rocket's_ telegrams and then lose our money over it," said Mr Medlock.

"Never mind this time, but you'd better look a little sharper, my boy.