221 CONFESSIONS OF A HORSE DEALER. 



seurs in horse-flesh) at their heels, to prevent them from 

 being cheated, but every one of this class of purchasers 

 has a different opinion about a horse when submitted to 

 his inspection. It is useless showing them a high- 

 priced and really valuable animal, for they would leave 

 the yard in disgust, with an idea that the dealer was 

 trying to impose upon them. But experienced horse- 

 dealers are excellent judges of human nature and phy- 

 siognomy ; they can tell almost instantly they see a man 

 whether he is a buyer, or a judge of horses, and how 

 much he will give to a few pounds. 



There is no class men in the community whose patience 

 and honour are so severely tested as horsedealers. Those 

 customers are generally the most afraid of being cheated 

 who are the most ignorant of the real value of a horse, 

 and the trouble they give so far outweighs the fair 

 legitimate profit to which a dealer is entitled, that it 

 becomes almost necessary to overcharge them a little, 

 by way of compensation for the superfluous annoyance 

 which they give in the deal ; and sometimes, in self- 

 defence, as a kind of assurance in the event of their 

 returning the horse when put out of conceit of him by 

 a clever friend, or by an ignorant, conceited groom, who, 

 taking advantage of his master's ignorance, is sure to 

 lower the condition of the horse, or perhaps injure him 

 BO much as to make out a case of breach of warranty, if 

 the dealer does not allow him a bribe (under the term 

 of "tip"), amounting in many cases of itself to a fair 

 profit, when sold to a customer, who knows what he 



