58 THE ADVENTURES OP A GENTLEMAN 



dudgeon, and indemnifies himself by boasting of his 

 sagacity in " escaping from the fangs of that rascal- 

 ly horse-dealer, Smith, who wanted to palm off a 

 vicious horse upon him, but he was too knowing ;" 

 while Mr. Smith, on the other hand, piously resolves 

 to " take in the next greenhorn of a man-milliner," 

 out of revenge for the trouble of uselessly showing 

 his stud. 



Sometimes the affair goes a step further. 



" I want a horse, Mr. Smith, but I won't go be- 

 yond thirty pounds." 



" I have one about that figure. Sir." 



" Figure ! is he well made ?" 



He is trotted out, admired, and purchased : four- 

 and-twenty hours elapse, and back come the horse 

 and his rider ; the one in a towering passion, the 

 other in a foam. • 



" You have treated me in a pretty way, Mr. Smith, 

 but I'll take the law of you, hang me, if I don't." 



" What's the matter now ?" 



"Didn't you sell this horse as sound, and make 

 me pay thirty guineas for him ?" 



"Well, Sir, what then ?" 



" What then, Sir ! what then ! why look here, look 

 at his knee ! see how he has cut himself !" 



