10 THE LIFE OF A EACEHORSE. 



" Are yoii aware that I am getting friglitfully fatigued with 

 this very slow discourse f inquired Sir Digby in a languid voice. 

 " If my treacherous memory does not deceive me, you induced 

 me to walk here at some inconvenience to see this colt. The 

 purpose being served, I suppose I can return." 



" He's the best shaped and finest for his age that my eyes 

 ever fell upon," rejoined our head groom in a marked and 

 emphatic voice. 



"You surprise me!" returned Sir Digby, as he concluded, 

 letting off a volley of small whiffs of smoke from his com- 

 pressed lips ; but neither the manner nor expression accompa- 

 nying the words evinced the slightest astonishment. 



"Ah, Sir Digby!" continued Eobert, warming upon 

 the subject, "if colt by Made Safe out of Dangerous by 

 Fleece' em, dam Treachery by Nobbier, doesn't pull back some 

 o' that money lent o' yours, / shall be surprised," 



"Money lent?" echoed the baronet, now exhibiting some 

 palpable symptoms of perplexity. 



" Money lost is but money lent, with such a rising yearlin' 

 as that," responded our head groom, pointing at me with a 

 straightened finger. "Ple'll win ye somethin' better than a 

 gold mine," continued he, " when fit to go to the post." 



"Egad!" ejaculated my owner; for, perhaps, I ought to 

 have said Sir Digby possessed the right of calling me his. 

 "Egad!" repeated he, with a sudden energy of tone, "but I 

 wish he was there at this precise moment. It would be 

 remarkably convenient, Robert, remarkably convenient." 



" If he was mine," resumed our head groom, " he should'nt 

 be there as soon as he will be." 



" "VYliat do you mean ?" 



" I'd keep 'm for a good three-year-old stake, and not take 

 the steel out of him too quickly. That's what / would do, Sir 

 Digby." 



"ISTow really," returned his master, with an air of deep 

 vexation, "one might reasonably suppose you were perfectly 

 unconscious of my total want of authority in these matters; 



