121小说

手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第17部分（第1页）

worth　one　thousand　lire　or　more。　Catherine　was　sure　his　color　had　been　changed。　Ferguson　said　she　could　not　tell。　I　thought　he　looked　suspicious。　We　all　agreed　we　ought　to　back　him　and　pooled　one　hundred　lire。　The　odds　sheets　showed　he　would　pay　thirty…five　to　one。　Crowell　went　over　and　bought　the　tickets　while　we　watched　the　jockeys　ride　around　once　more　and　then　go　out　under　the　trees　to　the　track　and　gallop　slowly　up　to　the　turn　where　the　start　was　to　be。

We　went　up　in　the　grand…stand　to　watch　the　race。　They　had　no　elastic　barrier　at　San　Siro　then　and　the　starter　lined　up　all　the　horses；　they　looked　very　small　way　up　the　track；　and　then　sent　them　off　with　a　crack　of　his　long　whip。　They　came　past　us　with　the　black　horse　well　in　front　and　on　the　turn　he　was　running　away　from　the　others。　I　watched　them　on　the　far　side　with　the　glasses　and　saw　the　jockey　fighting　to　hold　him　in　but　he　could　not　hold　him　and　when　they　came　around　the　turn　and　into　the　stretch　the　black　horse　was　fifteen　lengths　ahead　of　the　others。　He　went　way　on　up　and　around　the　turn　after　the　finish。

〃Isnt　it　wonderful；〃　Catherine　said。　〃Well　have　over　three　thousand　lire。　He　must　be　a　splendid　horse。〃

〃I　hope　his　color　doesnt　run；〃　Crowell　said；　〃before　they　pay　off。〃

〃He　was　really　a　lovely　horse；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　wonder　if　Mr。　Meyers　backed　him。〃

〃Did　you　have　the　winner？〃　I　called　to　Meyers。　He　nodded。

〃I　didnt；〃　Mrs。　Meyers　said。　〃Who　did　you　children　bet　on？〃

〃Japalac。〃

〃Really？　Hes　thirty…five　to　one！〃

〃We　liked　his　color。〃

〃I　didnt。　I　thought　he　looked　seedy。　They　told　me　not　to　back　him。〃

〃He　wont　pay　much；〃　Meyers　said。

〃Hes　marked　thirty…five　to　one　in　the　quotes；〃　I　said。

〃He　wont　pay　much。　At　the　last　minute；〃　Meyers　said；　〃they　put　a　lot　of　money　on　him。〃

〃No。〃

〃Kempton　and　the　boys。　Youll　see。　He　wont　pay　two　to　one。〃

〃Then　we　wont　get　three　thousand　lire；〃　Catherine　said。　〃I　dont　like　this　crooked　racing！〃

〃Well　get　two　hundred　lire。〃

〃Thats　nothing。　That　doesnt　do　us　any　good。　I　thought　we　were　going　to　get　three　thousand。〃

〃Its　crooked　and　disgusting；〃　Ferguson　said。

〃Of　course；〃　said　Catherine；　〃if　it　hadnt　been　crooked　wed　never　have　backed　him　at　all。　But　I　would　have　liked　the　three　thousand　lire。〃

〃Lets　go　down　and　get　a　drink　and　see　what　they　pay；〃　Crowell　said。　We　went　out　to　where　they　posted　the　numbers　and　the　bell　rang　to　pay　off　and　they　put　up　18。50　after　Japalac　to　win。　That　meant　he　paid　less　than　even　money　on　a　ten…lira　bet。

We　went　to　the　bar　under　the　grand…stand　and　had　a　whiskey　and　soda　apiece。　We　ran　into　a　couple　of　Italians　we　knew　and　McAdams；　the　vice…consul；　and　they　came　up　with　us　when　we　joined　the　girls。　The　Italians　were　full　of　manners　and　McAdams　talked　to　Catherine　while　we　went　down　to　bet　again。　Mr。　Meyers　was　standing　near　the　pari…mutuel。

〃Ask　him　what　he　played；〃　I　said　to　Crowell。

〃What　are　you　on；　Mr。　Meyers？〃　Crowell　asked。　Meyers　took　out　his　programme　and　pointed　to　the　number　five　with　his　pencil。

〃Do　you　mind　if　we　play　him　too？〃　Crowell　asked。

〃Go　ahead。　Go　ahead。　But　dont　tell　my　wife　I　gave　it　to　you。〃

〃Will　you　have　a　drink？〃　I　asked。

〃No　thanks。　I　never　drink。〃

We　put　a　hundred　lire　on　number　five　to　win　and　a　hundred　to　place　and　then　had　another　whiskey　and　soda　apiece。　I　was　feeling　very　good　and　we　picked　up　a　couple　more　Italians；　who　each　had　a　drink　with　us；　and　went　back　to　the　girls。　These　Italians　were　also　very　mannered　and　matched　manners　with　the　two　we　had　collected　before。　In　a　little　while　no　one　could　sit　down。　I　gave　the　tickets　to　Catherine。

〃What　horse　is　it？〃

〃I　dont　know。　Mr。　Meyers　choice。〃

〃Dont　you　even　know　the　name？〃

〃No。　You　can　find　it　on　the　programme。　Number　five　I　think。〃

〃You　have　touching　faith；〃　she　said。　The　number　five　won　but　did　not　pay　anything。　Mr。　Meyers　was　angry。

〃You　have　to　put　up　two　hundred　lire　to　make　twenty；〃　he　said。　〃Twelve　lire　for　ten。　Its　not　worth　it。　My　wife　lost　twenty　lire。〃

〃Ill　go　down　with　you；〃　Catherine　said　to　me。　The　Italians　all　stood　up。　We　went　downstairs　and　out　to　the　paddock。

〃Do　you　like　this？〃　Catherine　asked。

〃Yes。　I　guess　I　do。〃

〃Its　all　right；　I　suppose；〃　she　said。　〃But；　darling；　I　cant　stand　to　see　so　many　people。〃

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