MR. SPONGE'S SPORTING TOUR. 33 



" Not he," replied Leather, " not he, nor the gen'lman next him 

 nouthcr — he, in the pilot coat, with the whip sticking out of the 

 pocket, nor the one in the coffee-coloured 'at, nor none on 'em in 

 fact;" adding, "they all live on Squire Waffles — breakfast with 

 him — dine with him — drink with him — smoke with him — and if 

 any on 'em 'appen to 'ave an 'orse, why they sell to him, and so 

 ride for nothin' themselves." 



" A convenient sort of gentleman," observed Mr. Sponge, 

 thinking he, too, might accommodate him. 



The fly-man now touched his hat, indicative of a wish to be off', 

 having a fare waiting elsewhere. Mr. Sponge directed him to 

 proceed to the Brunswick Hotel, while, accompanied by Leather, 

 he proceeded on foot to the stables. 



Mr. Leather, of course, had the valuable stud under lock and 

 key, with every crevice and air-hole well stuffed with straw, as if 

 they had been the most valuable horses in the world. Having 

 produced the ring-key from his pocket, Mr. Leather opened tie 

 door, and having got his master in, speedily closed it, lest a breath 

 of fresh air might intrude. Having lighted a lucifer, he turned 

 on the gas, and exhibited the blooming-coated horses, well littered 

 in straw, showing that he was not the man to pay four-and-twenty 

 shillings a week for nothing. Mr. Sponge stood eyeing them for 

 some seconds with evident approbation. 



" If any one asks you about the horses, you can say they are 

 mine, you know," at length observed he, casually, with an emphasis 

 on the mine. 



" In course" replied Leather. 



" I mean, you needn't say anything about their being jobs" 

 observed Sponge, fearing Leather mightn't exactly " take." 



" You trust me," replied Leather, with a knowing wink and a 

 jerk of his elbow against his master's side; "you trust me," 

 repeated he, with a look as much as to say, " we understand each 

 other." 



" I've hadded a few to them, indeed," continued Leather, look- 

 ing to see how his master took it. 



" Have you ? " observed Mr. Sponge, inquiringly. 



" I've made out that you've as good as twenty, one way or 

 another," observed Leather ; " some 'ere, some there, all over in 

 fact, and that you jest run about the country, and 'unt with 

 'oever comes h'uppermost." 



" "Well, and what's the upshot of it all ? " inquired Mr. 

 Sponge, thinking his groom seemed wonderfully enthusiastic in 

 his interest. 



" Why, the hupshot of it is," replied Leather, " that the men are 

 all mad, and the women all wild to see you. I hear at my club, 

 the Mutton Chop and Mealy Potato Club, which is frequented by 



