THE ADVERTISEMENT. 125 



one hundred and sixty guineas.. The gentleman brought 

 ten or a dozen friends, and a veterinary surgeon, to aid 

 his judgment, and the horses were all but purchased, 

 when rrae morning he picked up the Times and read the 

 following advertisement : 



" To be sold, in consequence of a demise, a pair of carriage 

 horses. They are six years old each, and perfectly sound ; recently 

 cost 200 guineas; but, to effect a speedy sale, the sum of 120 

 guineas "will be taken, and a warranty of soundness and freedom 



from vice will be given. Apply to Mrs. Hardacre, Hall, 



Cumberland, or the business can be transacted through her coach- 

 man, who will be in London on the 12th inst. (this was the llth), 



and the horses can be seen on that day, at Mews, 



Square." 



" The very thing for me ; how fortunate I did not 

 buy the pair for which I am in treaty, for, most likely, 

 these are quite as good, if not better," said the gentle- 

 man to himself, as he entered the address in his pocket- 

 book, sallied out of the Queen's Hotel, in Cork Street, 

 and hailed a Hansom cab. Twenty minutes brought 

 him to the door of the stable where the flat- catching 

 beauties stood waiting his or some other victim's coming. 

 A stable boy was in charge, who at once volunteered to 

 run for the coachman, who speedily came. He was 

 attired in a spanking new suit of mourning livery. 



"You are Mrs. Hardacre's coachman, I presume," 

 said the gentleman to the coper in livery. 



Coper (pulling off his hat and smoothing his hair over 

 his forehead with the left hand). " Yes, sir." 



