THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 25 



" Yes, yon would," answered his mentor, in a most impres- 

 sive manner. " Yes, you would ; it's not an up-in-the-air-and- 

 down-again action ; it's not that sort of thing at all ; just a 

 nice hoist" — (Mr. Binkie winced) — "just a nice hoist of his 

 quarters, which really gives one confidence that he'll clear his 

 fences in safety. You leave it to me, my gay young antelope ; 

 this is the horse for your money. By-the-way, you haven't 

 opened the letter Crocky sent you. That'll probably tell you 

 the price he asks." 



Thus incited, Mr. Binkie breaks the envelope which he has 

 held all this time in his flabby hands, and reads as under — 



"Weeds Hall, 



" December loth. 



" Deae Sir, 



"Hearing that you were looking out for a really good 



hunter, I send you one to see and try, if you like so to do. 



My sole reason for selling him is that I am overstocked just at 



present. The horse — Marmion, by Capulet, out of a good 



hunting mare — is an admirable fencer, seven years old, and to 



the best of my belief as sound as a bit of gun-metal. The 



price is only £120, and I venture to think him dirt cheap at 



the money. 



" Faithfully yours, 



" Aechibald Crocker. 

 "T. A. Binkie, Esq., Junr." 



Mr. Binkie hummed and ha'd. He didn't want to appear 

 too eager ; it would look as if he had never bought a horse 

 before — as the fact was. For want of something more original 

 to say, he presently asked the groom — 



" Would he go in harness '? " 



