THE HAUGHTYSHIRE HUNT. 27 



Jack nodded assent. Then he added — 



"At a price, you know." 



" I won't take any less. A hundred-and-twenty is dirt 

 cheap for that horse." 



" Say eighty." 



" Not a copper less than a hundred-and-twenty," rejoined 

 the owner firmly. 



" Then I'm afraid it's no deal." 



" Now, cards on the table, you want your bit out of it, 

 I supj)ose, eh? " 



Jack tried to look affronted. Then, thinking better of it, 

 he said — 



" Leave me a reasonable margin, and we'll trade." 



" Ten '? " 



"No fear. Say thirty." 



" No. Tell you what I will do, though. I'll sell the horse 



to you at ninety guineas," he added, detecting a satisfied 



twinkle in Jack's eye; "and then you can sell him to your 

 friend. What do you think of that '? " 



" Make it ," began Mr. Dashwood. 



" Not a farthing less. Take it or leave it," said Mr. Crocker 

 decidedly. 



And seeing that he was not likely to make any better terms 

 for himself, Jack agreed, and the bargain was ratified and 

 liquefied at one and the same time. 



" You can have the horse as soon as you pay me the 

 money. Not by cheque, please — hate cheques " (the fact 

 being that the Honourable knew Mr. Jack Dashwood by 

 repute, and was determined only to part wdth his horse against 

 solid coin or crisp banknotes). 



