8 CONFESSIONS OP A HOBSF, DEALEB. 



"Better get upon the box with me," said coper 

 coachee, touching the brim of his hat to the victim. 



Glad of this favourable opportunity for a trial, he 

 mounts the box, after walking round the horses, and 

 looking in their mouths, as if he could tell the differ- 

 ence between a five-year old mouth, and one the age of 

 a man. Coper coachee can tell by his very appearance 

 that he is a " muff" at the game of horse-dealing; but 

 it is the fashion of many gentlemen to profess a great 

 deal more than they know about horses, and this only 

 makes them better game ; for many horse-copers, who 

 'know human nature well, will have the audacity to point 

 out a spavin, or a curb, as a good point, under the term 

 of " great strong hocks," and when the unmistakable , 

 sign of unsoundness (to a practised eye) is explained 

 ieway, the really good points will speak for themselves. 

 But this pair of horses are as clean on their legs as the 

 day they were foaled, and their action and general ap- 

 pearance are all that can be desired. 



They are now arrived at the door of a good-looking 

 'house, and the victim is introduced to coper A 1, who is 

 8orry to say he has scarcely a moment to spare, for he 

 &as just received a letter from the country to say that one 

 ; of his " dear little boys " is very ill at school. But if it is 

 about the horses the gentleman desires an interview, it is 

 sufficient for him to say they are both perfectly sound, and 

 free from any description of vice ; he is selling them owing 

 io circumstances, which he has then no time to explain ; 

 they cost him nearly double the amount for which they 



