And I’m sure the Black misses him.”

Tony led Napoleon into his stall, and Alec walked to the barn door. Outside he saw Henry. Calling, he ran toward him.

Henry smiled as Alec came up. “Missed you,” he said, “but imagined exams were keepin’ you pretty busy. How’d they go?”

“Okay,” Alec said, “passed ’em all.”

They walked to the barn and sat down on the bench. Finally, Tony came out. “ ’Allo, Henree,” he said, “what’sa new?”

“Nothin’, Tony. Same old stuff. Napoleon any better?”

“He’s-a okay. Just what ya call it … depressed? Anyway, he miss-a da Black.”

“He’ll be all right in a few days,” Henry assured him.

“You betch. Time-a heals everythin’.” His black eyes shifted to Alec. “Well-a hafta go home to da wife and bambinos. Addio!”

A few minutes after Tony had left, Alec and Henry saw a limousine pull up in front of the gate. A tall man got out, pushed his hat to the back of his head, and looked inquiringly in the direction of the barn.

“Say, Henry!” Alec shouted. “That looks a lot like Mr. Volence!”

“Bejabbers! It sure does. C’mon.”

The two ran toward the gate. Neither had seen the wealthy owner of Sun Raider since the big race in Chicago, when the Black had beaten his horse.

Alec was the first to recognize him. “It’s Mr. Volence all right, Henry,” he shouted.

“Yeah. Wonder what he wants?”

Mr. Volence met them at the gate. “Henry! Alec! It’s good seeing you again!” His large, heavily jowled face creased in a big grin.

A few minutes later they walked toward the barn. “So this is where you keep that black devil,” Mr. Volence said. “Tell me, has he calmed down any or is he as wild as ever?”

Henry looked at Alec. Alec shoved his hands in his pockets and said quietly, “He doesn’t live here anymore, Mr. Volence.”

“You … you mean you sold him?”

“No,” Alec explained. “His real owner turned up.”

Then Alec told him the whole story. When he had finished, Mr.