380 CLEAR AND SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE. 



and out of that (after a good deal o apparent search) 

 comes a paper : 



" Received of Mr. Michael Meddler fifty- eight pounds for 

 a chestnut gelding, warranted sound, sold for Thomas 

 Tobedone, Esq. ; for N. Nickem, GREGORY GOBETWEEN." 



" That is satisfactory, certainly, Mr. Nickem," says 

 the gentleman : " then it appears the horse was sold 

 twice?" "Just so, Sir," says Nickem: "this fellow 

 had not the horse two hours before in comes the 

 gentleman you saw, and he stuck him for eighty : 

 of course I could say nothing; he had a right to get 

 what he chose after buying the horse. If I had been 

 lucky enough to have waited, I should have got it for 

 you. I could have knocked my head against the wall. 

 I did not like to mention it to you, as it would do no 

 good ; and as I know how I felt, I thought it no use 

 to annoy you by telling you of it ! " 



Where are now all the convictions, the law-proceed- 

 ings, the threatened exposures ! There is the proof 

 of as fair a transaction as possible. The gentleman 

 even feels it due to say something in extenuation of 

 his doubts of its fairness, and ends by saying in part 

 apology, "You must allow, Nickem," (no Mr. now 

 we don't always Mister honest fellows,) " it did at first 

 look odd ! " Nickem allows it did look odd : the gen- 

 tleman was not aware of how many odd things are 

 done in some repositories ! 



The wisest, and indeed the only thing our defeated 

 friend can now do is to go and make himself as com- 

 fortable as he can for the evening, and again take his 

 place by the next day's mail. Having discussed his 

 cutlet, and being now placidly taking his wine and an 

 olive, he takes out his pencil and tablets, and just 



