PURCHASING- HOESES. 57 



being called " a friend of mine," only meant to say, 

 "many a half-crown I have had of his,*' and the 

 being "a dev'lish good fellow" meant I had always 

 paid my own servants well, and those of other 

 persons Hberally, when they did any thing to serve 

 or oblige me. Better be spoken of so, than as I heard 

 a nobleman remarked on in the same place; 



"Yes, my Lord," said the man, touching his hat; 

 and when gone, " A pretty devil you are for a lord 

 — a shilling !" looking contemptuously at the coin in 

 his hand. 



Now, as respects my getting the information I 

 want, it will be seen I seek none from the servants of 

 the estabhshment that the owner of it would object 

 to, and no one would repudiate more than myself 

 the bribing the servant of any man to betray the 

 interests of his master ; it will be seen I do nothing 

 of the kind. 



A nobleman or gentleman sends (say) ten hunters 

 to be sold ; I wish to purchase one. As they will 

 all be sold, it is quite immaterial to the owner who 

 purchases each particular horse ; it is as immaterial 



