102 THE HUNTING-FIELD. 



trifle more ; and from his size^ and way of going, 

 I thought he would turn out a fine horse/^ 



^^ That he had heen turned out of the hunting- 

 stable," said I, " is quite clear ; and now I will 

 tell you why the dealers were (in dealers^ phrase) 

 ' sweet upon him : ■* he is young, fresh on his 

 legs, you say goes well, and is a commanding 

 size ; this is enough for a London dealer. The 

 other horses were probably aged, and some stale 

 horses, yet went no doubt at prices that, under 

 such circumstances, would not suit dealers unless 

 they bought by commission. Now, what did you 

 give for him ? ■" 



'^ Seventy-six guineas," replied my friend. 



" And, doubtless," said I, '^ many or some of 

 the others, perhaps blemished, fetched the same 

 sum, and a hundred added to it. Judging, from 

 your not contradicting this, that it was so, how 

 could you expect that a fine unblemished six 

 years' old horse, with good action, would have 

 been let go at less than half the money if he had 

 been found good for anything as a hunter, or 

 even promising to become so ? '' 



" Why, I thought " 



'' Pardon me," said I, interrupting him, " you 

 did not think, — an omission that often lets people 

 in for very unlikely nags ; however, at the price, 

 the black can do you very little harm, except the 

 oats he has consumed ; and if his condition shows 



