PURCHASING HOESES. 143 



horses were discussed. I complimented him on the 

 condition of his. * Tolerable,' he Usped. * And I 

 infer from it/ said I, * that he is a good hunter.' 



* Oh no,' drawled my new acquaintance ; ' I do not 

 call him half a hunter — I seldom ride him.' I cocked 

 up my ears at this, and ventured to inquire in what 

 particular as a hunter he failed, asked if he was slow, 

 or a bad fencer? 'Oh, no,' said the gentleman; 



* he is fast enough, and can leap anything ; but the 

 brute rushes at his fences.' I detected a particularly 

 thin glove on my gentleman's hand, bordering on kid ; 

 from this and his mode of speaking I at once 



* spotted' my man. 'I mean to sell him,' con- 

 tinued tliis jonquille (the term 'pink' is old) of a 

 sportsman ; * he might suit some people.' I humbly 

 submitted that I might be one of ' the people ' he 

 might suit ; so said, if the horse, in consequence of 

 the failing specified, was to be had at a moderate 

 price, I might buy him. ' Oh, yes,' hsped the gentle- 

 man, ' I shall sell him at little money — a hundred 

 and fifty.' Determined to pay off the jonquille in 

 his own coin, I said : ' I am afraid he must rush 



