220 A CASE IN POINT. 



counties in search of a first-class hunter, and taken a 

 fancy to a clever weight-carrying horse, for which the 

 sum of one hundred and sixty-five guineas was asked ; 

 whereupon he requested time for consideration, which 

 was readily granted by the dealer ; and for some few 

 days nothing more was heard of the matter, until about 

 eleven o'clock one morning, a person (who subsequently 

 turned out to be the gentleman's groom) presented him- 

 self to the dealer and requested to be allowed to examine 

 the horse — stating at the same time, that the purchase of 

 the horse depended solely on his approval. The re- 

 quest was instantly complied with, and the groom — 

 affecting the air of a professional man — went through 

 a lengthened examination; during which, the dealer 

 retired to his office, where he remained cogitating on 

 the probable chances of selling his horse, until his 

 reverie was broken into by the groom's demand of 

 twenty-five pounds if he effected the sale of the horse ; 

 at which, the dealer expressed his most unmeasured 

 indignation, refusing to entertain such a proposal for 

 an instant. Whereupon, the groom once more retired, 

 and commenced a further examination of the horse. 



At about six o'clock on the same evening, he once 

 more presented himself to the dealer, and requested 

 the delivery of the horse ; at the same time, pulling 

 from his pocket a cheque for the amount from his mas- 

 ter, who desired him to deliver it, and bring back the 

 horse with a warranty as to soundness. This the dealer 

 indignantly refused to comply with ; stating as his rea- 

 son, the overweening dishonesty the groom had ex- 



