UDE OUTDONE. 357 



knows what the master does not, namely, whether 

 he is ^likely to make a harness-horse. This in some 

 horses puts on or takes off twenty, perhaps thirty 

 pounds in their value, and this is all done without 

 any exposure to servants. True enough, they know 

 quite well what game is going on, but their place is 

 too good to lose by talking ; and if they did, what 

 could they say further than that " master had tried 

 the horse in every way ! " If even the owner caught 

 the horse under this trial, a lie would be ready cut 

 and dried for him : Ude could not turn out an ome- 

 lette aux fines Jierbes half as quickly as Nickem could 

 a dozenplats of well-dried, highly-spiced, and seasoned 

 fibs : " 'tis his vocation, Hal ! " He was seeing him in 

 harness for a match for a gentleman who would buy 

 him in a minute if he seemed likely to take to har- 

 ness : " or, if he was being leaped, Nickem. " intends 

 to write off immediately to a customer now he can 

 safely say the horse leaps well : he always wishes to 

 sell gentlemen's horses as soon as possible, so he likes 

 to see what they can do : he can then take upon him- 

 self to recommend them." This the owner cannot 

 deny is very fair, proper, and indeed conscientious in 

 Nickem. Very ! 



Nickem having learnt pretty nearly all he wants 

 about the horse, he must now learn all he can about 

 the gentleman, and see how far he is likely to go 

 quietly or be obstreperous in the harness he intends 

 to put on him. He plies him as to price. Probably 

 Nickem's opinion is asked, and possibly his advice. 

 This advice will of course be given as best suits his 

 own interest. Before, however, he gives in this opi- 

 nion or advice, he puts in a feeler something in this 

 way : "Why, Sir, the price to be taken of course 



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