22 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEALER. 



and the screw taken away. After being ridden a few 

 days the new-sprung spavin began to devolope itself 

 (having been carefully nursed since its first appearance) i 

 he was taken to a veterinary surgeon, wh told the 

 dupe to get rid of him at any price ; for, said he, " al- 

 though blistering may do him a little good, nothing less 

 than firing will render him serviceable, and the expense, 

 with keep, &c., until he is fit for use, will amount to con- 

 siderably more than his value. 51 The victim now began 

 to see his folly, or, in vulgar parlance, to " smell a 

 rat ;" he directed his groom to lead the horse to the 

 coper's stable, whither he accompanied him, and the 

 following conversation ensued z 

 " Good morning, sir." 

 "Morning, sur." 



" My veterinary surgeon says this horse is spavined." 

 " Indeed ! who is your veterinary surgeon ?" 



Mr. , in street," 



" Oh ! I know that d d scamp ; he's a spite against 

 me because I never tip him." 



" What do you mean by tipping him ?" 

 " Why, sir, if I had known where you intended to 

 have the horse examined, I mean to say that, by send- 

 ing him a ' five pun* note, this horse, which as he says 

 has a spavin, would have had no spavin at all ; that's 

 what I mean to say ; and you may tell your veterinary 

 Burgeon that I say so." 



" Well, but you cannot deny tliat the horse is quite 

 lame ; what is it if it's not a spavin ?" 



