Brighter Buccaneer by Leslie Charteris Read Free Book Online Page B

what’s the trouble, and I’ll see what we can do about it.”
    “Well-you see-it’s my brother … I’m afraid he’s rather young and-well, silly. He’s been backing horses. He’s lost a lot of money, ever so much more than he can pay. You must know how easy it is. Putting on more and more to try and make up for his losses, and still losing… . Well, he works in a bank; and his bookmaker’s threatened to write to the manager if he doesn’t pay up. Of course Derek would lose his job at once …..”
    Mr. Lesbon sighed.
    “Dear me!” he said.
    “Oh, I’m not trying to ask for money! Don’t think that. I shouldn’t be such a fool. But-well, Derek’s made a friend of a man who’s a trainer. His name’s Farrell-I’ve met him, and I think he’s quite straight. He’s tried to make Derek give up betting, but it wasn’t any good. However, he’s got a horse in his stable called Hill Billy-I don’t know anything about horses, but apparently Farrell said Hill Billy would be a certainty tomorrow if your horse didn’t win. He advised Derek to do something about it-clear his losses and give it up for good.” The girl twisted her handkerchief nervously. “He said- please don’t think I’m being rude, Mr. Lesbon, but I’m just trying to be honest-he said you didn’t always want to win- and-and-perhaps if I came and saw you-“
    She looked up at Rickaway’s owner with liquid eyes, her lower lip trembling a little. Mr. Lesbon’s breath came a shade faster.
    “I know Farrell,” he said, as quietly as he could. “I had a horse in his stable last year, and he asked me to take it away- just because I didn’t always want to win with it. He’s changed his principles rather suddenly.”
    “I-I’m sure he’d never have done it if it wasn’t for Derek, Mr. Lesbon. He’s really fond of the boy. Derek’s awfully nice. He’s a bit wild, but … Well, you see, I’m four years older than he is, and I simply have to look after him. I’d do anything for him.”
    Lesbon cleared his throat.
    “Yes, yes, my dear. Naturally.” He patted her hand. “I see your predicament. So you want me to lose the race. Well, if Farrell’s so fond of Derek, why doesn’t he scratch Hill Billy and let the boy win on Rickaway?”
    “Because-oh, I suppose I can’t help telling you. He said no one ever knew what your horses were going to do, and perhaps you mightn’t be wanting to win with Rickaway tomorrow.”
    Lesbon rose and poured himself out a glass of whisky.
    “My dear, what a thing it is to have a reputation!” He gestured picturesquely. “But I suppose we can’t all be paragons of virtue … But still, that’s quite a lot for you to ask me to do. Interfering with horses is a serious offence-a very serious offence. You can be warned off for it. You can be branded, metaphorically. Your whole career”-Mr. Lesbon repeated his gesture-“can be ruined!”
    The girl bit her lip.
    “Did you know that?” demanded Lesbon.
    “I-I suppose I must have realised it. But when you’re only thinking about someone you love-“
    “Yes, I understand.” Lesbon drained his glass. “You would do anything to save your brother. Isn’t that what you said?”
    He sat on the arm of the chair again, searching her face. There was no misreading the significance of his gaze.
    The girl avoided his eyes.
    “How much do you think you could do, my dear?”
    “No!” Suddenly she looked at him again, her lovely face pale and tragic. “You couldn’t want that-you couldn’t be so-“
    “Couldn’t I?” The man laughed. “My dear, you’re too innocent!” He went back to the decanter. “Well, I respect your innocence. I respect it enormously. We won’t say any more about-unpleasant things like that. I will be philanthropical. Rickaway will lose. And there are no strings to it. I give way to a charming and courageous lady.”
    She sprang up.
    “Mr. Lesbon! Do you mean that-will you really —”
    “My dear, I will,” pronounced Mr.