ROAD HORSES. 363 



ting,'" of Covent-garden Theatre for many 

 years, whose stage-consequence became so 

 habitual to him, he could never be divested 

 of it in the most trifling occurrences of 

 common life. At tht^ conclusion of the 

 winter season, when making his itinerant 

 excursion to join a company in the coun- 

 try for the summer, he dismounted at an 

 inn upon the road, and, ordering proper 

 proportions of corn and water for the 

 BUCEPHALUS on which he rode, enjoyed 

 himself most luxuriously upon the best to be 

 produced. When satiated w^ith good liv- 

 ing, he deposited his pecuniary compen- 

 sation, and, sallying forth, exclaimed most 

 . theatrically for the " Ostler; '' who ap- 

 pearing, the guest approached him with 

 his whip clenched in his hand, (in the 

 manner of a truncheon, like the ghost in 

 Hamlet,) still continuing to call upon the 

 '* Ostler." The ostler, recovering from 

 the first surprise, ventured, after some trifling 

 hesitation, to answer, but with doubt and 

 disinay, '' Sir T' — '' When my steed has put 

 a period to his provender, produce him." 

 This was a thunder-stroke to a man little 



