The Leather Plater, 295 



made a good thing of it, for the colt looks a hundred and fifty all 

 over 3 and, what's more, he's worth ir, too," added the groom, 

 viciously poking the dead coals on the top of the fire with the toe 

 of his boot. 



" What did the old chap say when you asked him for the tenner 

 back?" I then inquired. 



''■ Why, I thought he'd have pitched into me with a hayfork he 

 had in his hand. He just walked out of the box, held the door in 

 hand till I had followed him out, then locked it, and walked up to 

 the house without saying another word — never asking me in, nor 

 even so much as bidding me good-day. I never did see such an old 

 ruffian in all my life. I wonder whether they breed them all like 

 him in these parts ; and yet the old boy knows a horse well, too," 

 added the groom apologetically — as if that circumstance would 

 cover a multitude of sins. 



"What shall you do now?" I next asked. 



" Why, I shall call on my road home and buy the colt, and see 

 if I can work anything out of the old fellow. I must have the colt, 

 for my chap seems to have set his mind on him. I'll just wait an 

 hour to let the old boy get over his temper 3 but I must be out of 

 this one-eyed place by daylight, so that I can get on to the north 

 road before the sun goes down." 



It was now two o'clock. I had learned all I wanted to know, 

 and it struck me rather forcibly that unless the groom looked pretty 

 sharp, the bay colt by Plover was not very likely ever to carry one 

 of the captain's favourites as a park hack. 



Our conversation was now interrupted by the entrance of iiy 

 poached eggs and bacon. While I was discussing them my frieiid 

 sat by the fire cursing things in general, especially our country a^id 

 the state of the roads -, wondering whoever could have been fool 

 enough to think of placing a village where Holliwell stood 3 and 

 anathematizing all masters who interfered in the buying of their 

 horses without first consulting their stud-grooms. '' What the devil 

 is the use of a man having a stud-groom," he fiercely asked me, "if 

 he knows as much about a horse himself?" 



