330 " A COOSTOMER, A COOSTOMER." 



about it would show it had been long inhabited ; the 

 beds tidy and comfortable, but nothing remarkable 

 either way neither plaits behind the horses as a 

 show-off on the one hand, nor any appearance of 

 neglect, as if one man did the whole business, on the 

 other. The thing would be all in keeping : the horses 

 would wear the same clothing (at least as far as 

 pattern) ; those and the head-collars would show they 

 were made by the same person : so if we look into the 

 coach-house and harness-room, if there is one, we shall 

 find harness of all sorts, saddles, bridles, girths, spare 

 clothing, spare parts of harness, bits, &c. hung up all 

 round. 



Now had Rascal and Co. had the precaution to 

 carry on the thing so well as to have got together all 

 this, unless we had called at the house, I allow I 

 should be a little staggered on opening the stable 

 door, and have thought it possible I had condemned 

 the advertisement somewhat hastily, and should per- 

 haps go far enough to make some inquiries as to its 

 being genuine. But the moment we open the door, 

 as the thing is here done, no inquiry is necessary. 

 The instant the latch is lifted, or a knock made at 

 the door, we hear a bustle. This proceeds from the 

 horses, which are up to the very mangers at once as 

 quick as " attention " ever produced a simultaneous 

 movement in a company on parade ; and farther, from 

 the very bad imitation of a respectable servant in the 

 fellow who is to play that part, having nothing to do 

 but to keep watch, jumping from off the corn-bin or 

 from the side of one of the horses' beds, where he was 

 in a kind of lie or sit " at ease " position, from which 

 the " attention " aforesaid calls him as quickly as it 

 does the horses. If this should happen to be a really 



