104 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



destitute of experience ; yet I had never detect- 

 ed either the lameness or the disease ; the cutting was 

 the only obvious symptom either to an unskilful eye, 

 though it must be owned, one sufficiently decisive. 



It is only due to Osborn to say that he received 

 him back again with very little hesitation ; notwith- 

 standing one of his subordinate agents blustered 

 loudly about it, and "if it were his horse, he would 

 not take him back at any price, after being so 

 knocked about ! ! ! " the only " knocking about" be- 

 ing that of his own limbs. From Osborn I have 

 always received civility and attention, nor has he 

 ever "taken me in;" but I never trust any com- 

 mission dealer, farther than my own eyes warrant 

 the confidence. I may observe, en passant^ that 

 whenever a horse is returned on a dealer's hands for 

 unsoundness, unless the seller is one of that respect- 

 able class which I have before described, this is the 

 ordinary salute, although the animal may have been 

 nursed like my lady's lap-dog, and prove as unsound 

 as a walnut in January. If you are sure that 

 you are right, and that the man is solvent, your 

 best, and indeed your only retort, is a letter from 

 your attorney. 



