144 



only to take the opportunity of observing whether 

 the dashing iron or the floor retains marks of the 

 shoe, or has been recently repaired in order to 

 efface them. 



I once was trying, a stanhope horse, in company 

 with his owner, but not in his owner's chaise : I 

 had no suspicions, for I was to receive a warranty 

 of ''sound and safe in harness," but he appeared 

 to me to show a great deal of work ; and there- 

 fore, I wished to see the stanhope that he had 

 been accustomed to draw. " It was at the coach- 

 maker's." I offered to go there, and proposed 

 that we should drive to the shop. " It was a long 

 way off, on the other side of the water." I re- 

 plied, that my time was of no consequence ; for, 

 whenever I perceive hesitation, I always feel dis- 

 trust. '' It was taken to pieces to be fresh painted." 

 In short, I found that the chaise was not to be 

 seen ; and therefore, see it I would. When we 

 returned to the stables, I took an opportunity of 

 saying privately to the ostler, that I thought the 

 horse had been over-weighted, and I wished to 

 compare his owner's stanhope with mine. " When 

 would it be at home again?" He could not tell, 

 but at once referred me to the coachmaker's : this 

 was all I wanted. I proceeded there without 

 delay, and anticipated his customer by only ten 

 minutes : this was enough however, to apprise 



