Esther Waters by George (George Augustus) Moore
page 76 of 505 (15%)
page 76 of 505 (15%)
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felt very proud of being consulted, for Mr. Leopold had never before been
known to let anyone know what he had on a race. Next day they walked into Shoreham together. The bar of the "Red Lion" was full of people. Above the thronging crowd the voice of the barman and the customers were heard calling, "Two glasses of Burton, glass of bitter, three of whiskey cold." There were railway porters, sailors, boatmen, shop-boys, and market gardeners. They had all won something, and had come for their winnings. Old Watkins, an elderly man with white whiskers and a curving stomach, had just run in to wet his whistle. He walked back to his office with Mr. Leopold and William, a little corner shelved out of some out-houses, into which you could walk from the street. "Talk of favourites!" he said; "I'd sooner pay over the three first favourites than this one--thirty, twenty to one starting price, and the whole town onto him; it's enough to break any man.... Now, my men, what is it?" he said, turning to the railway porters. "Just the trifle me and my mates 'av won over that 'ere 'orse." "What was it?" "A shilling at five and twenty to one." "Look it out, Joey. Is it all right?" "Yes, sir; yes, sir," said the clerk. |
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