268 SHAVING. 



to be lengthened, measures their length by his arm, 

 twists his fingers en Dragoon in the mane; motion 

 one, two, three, and he is mounted. He rides, look- 

 ing at every visible part of himself, for in his opinion 

 a very good reason to see how he looks and he 

 then looks at every visible part of his horse. With 

 the investigation of himself, I will answer for it he is 

 perfectly satisfied, and with that of the horse, not 

 knowing enough to be the reverse : if he has been 

 carried easily, he is probably satisfied also. He 

 returns : now Tom's master's soap goes to work again : 

 " That horse will make you a beautiful charger, Sir: 

 there won't be many such in your regiment." " I 

 am not in the army." "Oh! I beg your pardon, 

 Sir, I thought from your riding you was." (Mem. 

 "a civil man this dealer.") Muff now dismounts; 

 the nag goes into the stable, the Gentleman into the 

 counting-house, gives his cheque, and is lucky if he 

 does not shortly find out that his purse has got one 

 in return to a tolerable stiff amount. The Gentleman 

 now walks off; but the nagsman has been watching 

 him or the office is given that he is going. He is 

 allowed to get to the gate, that the dealer may be 

 supposed not to know what is going on, though it 

 was very likely himself who gave the man the signal. 

 Up comes nagsman, touches his hat "Beg your 

 pardon, Sir ! the nagsman, Sir, if you please ! " 

 " Oh, certainly ! " Out comes the purse. Tom sees 

 half-a-crown coming out of that. " You've got a 

 nice horse, Sir!" "Well, I think he is." Out 

 follows another shilling. " I pin ted out that horse 

 to you, Sir, when you came into the stable : I knew 

 he would suit you: (another shilling:) I'm glad 

 you've got him, Sir " (no lie this) " for though he's 



