240 THE ADVENTURES OF A GENTLEMAN 



pensate fov fifty faults. The biddings were slack, 

 however, malgre the auctioneer. Five pounds — 

 five pounds ten — six pounds — reluctantly dropped 

 at long intervals. "This will never do," thought 

 the learned gentleman, and by way of stimulating 

 competition, he jumped at once to thirty guineas. 

 The knowing ones stared, and promptly took the 

 hint: in less than a minute the lot was knocked 

 down to the novice himself at fifty guineas. He 

 regretted outstanding his market, but consoled him- 

 self with the comfortable reflection that at least 

 he had learnt his horse's value, and had not been 

 taken in by the dealer. 



"By your leave — make way there — stand aside 

 gen'l'm'n" — and two or three rough salutations of 

 sticks, whips, and voices, warned him of the rapid 

 approach of the next lot. The learned counsel 

 awoke from his reverie — rubbed his eyes — adjusted 

 his glasses — gaped, and stared, and gaped again 

 at the new comer, with petrifying suspicion. He 

 turned, with fumbling agitation, to his pocket-book, 

 and found that, mistaking the lot, he had puffed 

 and purchased his neighbor's horse ! ! ! Having 

 two worthless animals thus unexpectedly thrown 



