46 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



"•* equal to fifteen stone up to the fleetest hounds in 

 England," depend upon it he never saw the tail of 

 a hound in his life; if he is a "beautiful stepper," 

 you will find that he has the action of a peacock ; if 

 a "liberal trial is allowed," be most especially care- 

 ful : a deposit of half the price, but three times his 

 value, will assuredly be required as security for your 

 return ; and finally, whenever you see that he is the 

 "property of a tradesman who wants to exchange 

 -for a horse of less value for his business," of "a 

 gentleman who has given up riding from ill-health," 

 or because "he is going abroad," of "a professional 

 man whose avocations call him from town," of " a 

 person of respectability who can be referred to," or 

 of " the executors of a gentleman lately deceased," 

 you may safely swear that he belongs to a syste- 

 matic chanter, who will swindle you both out of 

 horse and money, and involve you in all the trouble, 

 cost, and vexation of an Old Bailey prosecution to 

 boot. 



I have tried all these fellows : I have ferreted 

 them out in all their holes and corners ; I have run 

 them to earth scores of times ; I have detected them 

 buying a blemished or a stolen horse for ten pounds 



