EST MODUS IN REBUS. 11 



judge, " to look out for them : " that is, they are 

 disposed to honour such a friend by permitting 

 him to trot about to twenty different dealers' 

 stables and see perhaps forty horses out, and for 

 what? That the purchaser may then go and 

 pass his judgment on these same horses ! I do 

 not know what such gentlemen may think while 

 making such a request ; but this I know, unless 

 a man had made up his mind to the honour of 

 becoming their groom, I should certainly recom- 

 mend him to decline that of being their tout. 



I scarcely know a piece of greater impertinence 

 than that of a man who is in want of a horse 

 asking another, in the common term, " to look out 

 for him." One might certainly, without giving 

 any offence, say to another, " I want a brougham 

 horse, and should like such a colour and size, and 

 intend going to such a price ; if, in your walks or 

 rides, you should happen to see anything of the 

 sort, would you oblige me by dropping me a line 

 saying to whom he belongs ? " To which may be 

 added (whether true or not), by way of a sweet- 

 ener, " If you tell me you think him a clever 

 one, I am sure I shall like him ; and I dare say 

 buy him." 



Here is merely a little friendly and gentlemanly 

 commission given from one man to another ; no 

 trouble given to a friend to save your own ; and 

 as the friend does not, in such a case, select the 



