CHAPTER II. 



STILL BENT ON THE PURCHASE OF A HORSE — PLANS. 



PPORTUNELY, the interim between this 

 conversation with Gloppin and my interview 

 with Clumber, the Flyman, I spend to the best 

 advantage in obtaining information as to 

 horses generally. 



The reports about the prices of horses just now are some- 

 thing alarming. 



A casual acquaintance in a train has something to say on 

 the subject. This casual acquaintance I have long taken to 

 be of a strongly sporting turn, for three reasons : firstly, 

 because he lives, I believe, a long way out in the country ; 

 secondly, because, in the summer, he wears a white hat wdth 

 a black band round it ; and, thirdly, because I don't know 

 his name, or his profession, or business, if any ; but, in a 

 general way, I suppose him to be " something in the City," 

 and something, only much more so, in the country, where I 

 can imagine him strolling through his stables with a cigar 

 sticking out of one side of his mouth, his hat cocked on the 

 other side of his head, to balance the cigar, and inspecting 

 everything, from a break to a handful of oats, with the air of 



