THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



visit again, being so very little to his taste, and that was 

 Tattersall's. 



' Do let us go to Tattersall's,' said Frank to his uncle, on 

 the Monday ; ' I should so like to see all the fine horses he 

 sells ; besides which, I dare say, we shall meet with some of 

 papa's friends.' 



To Tattersall's then they went, and witnessed a curious 

 scene. The impatience of a schoolboy is proverbial ; and 

 that of Frank Raby for the scene of action having got the 

 better of the tardy motions of his uncle, the party found 

 tliemselves at ' the Corner ' at least an hour and a half sooner 

 than they need have been, a period of the day when the 

 auctioneer is employed in offering for sale a few low-priced 

 hacks, as a sort of prelude to the more important scene 

 which is to follow, when the aristocratic part of the audience 

 assembles. This, however, passed unnoticed by the uncle, who 

 was no horse man, but not so by Frank Raby. ' What ! 

 uncle,' says he, ' is this the famous Tattersall's that I have 

 heard Sir John Inkleton and my father talk so much of ? — 

 where Sir John sold eight grey coach horses, not warranted 

 sound, for £800 ! Why, I did not see a worse set of rips at 

 our Whitsun fair ! ' 



' Rips to be sure they are,' said an old friend of his father 

 and uncle, who stepped out of the crowd at the moment, 

 just in time to hear the remark, ' yet I have bid seventeen 

 pounds for one of them, a very useful-looking pony. But 

 let me shake you all by the hand. Raby, glad to see you. 

 Lads, who would have thought of seeing you in London ? 

 — on your road to Eton, I suppose ; and how did you leave 

 them all at the Abbey ? — not coming to town this season, I 

 fear.' 



' But, Mr. Verner,' said Frank, interrupting him, ' why don't 

 you buy the " useful-looking pony " ? he must be cheap at 

 that money, and I hear Tattersall now crying out — " Going 

 at eighteen pounds." ' ' Well, Frank,' replied Mr. Verner, 

 ' to oblige you, I'll go another pound ; you would like to have 

 to say, when you write home, that you saw me buy a horse 

 at Tattersall's ' : so catcliing the auctioneer's eye, and tipping 

 him a wink, down went the lianniier, with — 'For you, 

 Mr. Verner, I believe ' ; followed by a nod of assent from his 

 customer. 



74 



