A DIFFICULT DEAL 255 



too much, and declined him. However, I afterwards per- 

 suaded his lordship to come down and look at him in the 

 stable in the evening, which he did ; and after examin- 

 ing his legs with great ability and minuteness, he said he 

 thought the near one was a little filled, which he attri- 

 buted to the race more than to anything else, and thought 

 'a little rest would set him right.' I was thankful for 

 this expression of opinion, for it saved me offering one of 

 my own on a very delicate subject. However, his lord- 

 ship again declined to purchase on account of the price, 

 which he said was too much. I had my own reasons for 

 not wishing to let slip my customer, so after a bit I said : 



' Well, your lordship, even at the risk of displeasing 

 Mr. Parker, I will, to oblige you, lower it, and take a 

 little less.' 



This I carried out pretty much after the fashion of the 

 Cheap- Jacks, coming down first from 1,500 to 1,400 ; 

 then from 1,400 to 1,300 ; and, lastly, from 1,300 to 

 1,200 ; but all to no effect. His lordship refused each 

 offer in succession, and I felt that I had exhausted my 

 knowledge of persuasive arguments to exhibit Cedric in 

 his most nattering form. I had, in fact, to give in, fairly 

 confessing myself unequal to the task of convincing him 

 of the intrinsic worth of so valuable an animal. And it 

 was plainly evident, too, that his lordship had as much 

 faith in his own knowledge of the horse's running as in 

 anything that emanated from me respecting him which 

 was also a little relief to my mind. 



Having so singularly failed in my advances, I had to 

 reverse my tactics and make a waiting race of it, which, 

 as it turned out, succeeded admirably. After a little 

 while, I said : 



' What offer, my lord, can I tell Mr. Parker you will 

 make ?' 



