26 THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 



That smart menial smiled pityingly, as he replied — 



" Om' 'unters, sir, are not wanted for any 'arness 

 work. We've got a old screw or two which we puts in 

 when we wants to rmi a cart to the station, or the meets, 

 or anywheres," 



" Oh, really," replied our friend, in his weak falsetto voice. 

 He didn't in the least know what ' patting an old screw in 

 a cart ' meant. Probably some new method of propelling a 

 motor-car, he thought to himself. 



" Offer eighty for him," suggested Sir Tommy. 



"No, no, that's no good," chimed in Jack. "Look here, 

 dear boy, I'll go over to Crocky and see if I can beat him 

 down a bit, eh ? You get your father to sign a cheque — a 

 blank cheque, you know, and I'll get the beggar as cheap as 

 I can. How does that idea strike you ? " 



Mr. Binkie Junior readily assented, except that he didn't 

 give Jack the cheque. The horse was then despatched back 

 again, and the groom charged with a message to the Honour- 

 able, that Mr. Binkie's friend, Mr. Dashwood, would drive 

 over and see the owner of the good-looking chestnut in an 

 hour's time. 



Punctually to the appointed period. Jack dashed up to 

 the gates of Weeds Hall, as Mr. Crocker's place was called, 

 and found that gentleman — this being a non-hunting day — 

 standing on his own doorstep waiting to receive him. 



They went into the house and sat down. No time was 

 wasted in preliminaries, and the two gentlemen got to business 

 without delay. 



"Does he mean to buy ? " said the Honourable, coming to 

 the point at once. 



