The duchess herself had been a Blanche Wintour, the daughter of a wealthy commoner. She had been and was still a great beauty, and the earl duke married her not because he cared for her, but to spite his brother and please his other relations, and secure an heir to the title and estates. A baby came, but, unfortunately, it was a girl, and the earl, thinking himself shamefully ill-used, went off in a hot temper to the North Pole, where he caught a severe cold, which, settling on his lungs, ultimately led to his death. Her first marriage had been entirely one of convenience, but in selecting a second husband the duchess was at liberty to be guided by her heart.
All the guests at the ball were more or less interested in the Silver Gauntlet, and the chances of the various candidates were freely discussed. Other ladies besides the duchess had lovers going to take part in the race.
From the commencement of the betting till that night Mr. Moordown's horse had been the favourite, followed a point or two off by Sir Hew Mainfly's Springtrap, and Lord Piershore's Eye of Night, but no sooner had the dancing begun, when it was whispered about that there was something wrong with Highdrift.
One man had seen Billy Platt lay six ponies, and offer to go on; a second was told that the horse was actually scratched on account of an accident to his fetlock joint, and a third had heard that the retrograde movement in the betting was only got up for the easier working of a large commission.
On approaching a knot of these gossips, the question was put point blank to Moordown whether there was anything the matter with his horse, and his answer was reassuring enough.
"When I left him a few minutes ago," he said, "he was as well as any horse in England."
Still there were men who shook their heads, believing that where the smoke is the fire is not far distant, and they noticed that Moordown looked terribly dejected and ill at ease.
Later in the night it became generally known that Platt had finished Highdrift's business for him by offering 10 to 1 as often as anyone would take it, and everyone concluded the horse would not run.
Disquieting rumours about the favourite had reached the duchess from time to time, but she could not ask Moordown for an explanation, as he kept out of her circle. When, however, she overheard this remark, "They say Moordown is hard up, and has given a laying commission to Billy Platt," she went in search of him. She found him leaning against a pillar at the entrance to the conservatory.