HORSE DEALING 229 



permits, with a repartee that may throw back the 

 laugh. 



' One day, at a dealer's, some other gentlemen 

 were looking at the stables, and two of them at the 

 very horse I was minutely measuring. They ap- 

 peared to be a couple of schoolboys just escaped from 

 Eton, or perhaps freshmen who had spent a term at 

 Cambridge. The dealer was obviously speculating 

 on a purchaser in one of these youths, and seemed 

 nettled at my narrow scrutiny, which threatened to 

 disappoint his designs. 



' " Tom," said he to his ostler, " go to the tailor 

 and borrow his measure and shears for the gentle- 

 man." 



' '^ And stop at the saddler's on the way, Tom, to 

 buy a halter for your master," I added. 



' The retort told, coarse and trite as it was, and I 

 was allowed to finish my scrutiny in peace.' ^ 



One good maxim in purchasing a horse is not to 

 expect too much for your money. 



' We believe it was Lord Barrymore who, at New- 

 market, among a vast crowd of the sporting world, 

 mounted himself on a chair, and having made a 

 signal for silence, said aloud : 



i a Who wants a horse that can gallop) twenty 

 miles an hour, trot seventeen, and walk six ? " 



' Of course vociferations of " I do, I do," were 



' Sir G. Stephens — Adcciitnrcs of a Gentleman in Search of a 

 Horse. 



