276 In Scarlet and Silk 



throws open the door of a loose-box, and 

 addressing his satellite, says — 



" Tom, just strip this horse. Rufus, I call 

 him, sir. By Lord Gough, dam by Victor. 

 Irish horse, of course." 



" But," you mildly object, " didn't Victor 

 die ever so many years " 



"Oh, that Victor, oh yes ; this is by the 

 other Victor, you know." 



You didn't know, but let it pass. After 

 all, you had come to buy a horse, not a 

 pedigree. 



When divested of his clothing Rufus was 

 certainly a taking horse, and filled the eye as 

 a hunter all over. 



" Now that's a horse you'd like," says Mr. 

 Nemo, with just the least possible inflection 

 in his voice as he pronounces the word " you." 

 You take it as an implied compliment to your 

 horsemanship. No man resists that. I know 

 two men who refused Peerages, and one who 

 declined the Lord Chancellorship, but I never 

 yet met the human being that wouldn't swaL 

 low a compliment paid to his horsemanship. 



