In the Off-Season 287 



conscious of the fact that he is the cynosure 

 of all eyes. You feel your own sparkle — at 

 least, you think you do — as you look him 

 over from the tips of his pricked ears to the 

 one white heel behind. 



" Lot 74. Grey gelding, Shamrock, good 

 hunter and brilliant fencer. AYhat may I 

 say for Shamrock ? Will any one put him in 

 at a hundred just to start with ? He's worth 

 three or four times that money, gentlemen. 

 Well then, ninety ? Thank you, sir ; ninety 

 guineas is bid. Ninety — ninety guineas — 

 one, two, five, a hundred ; a hundred in two 

 places — and five, thank you. One hundred 

 and five guineas is bid for Shamrock. A 

 horse like this must be worth a great deal 

 more than that money, &c." 



Now, all this time you could see that 

 villain Stubbins nodding with an air of 

 determination which quite shocked you after 

 his unblushing statement before the sale 

 anent the horse's legs. You get nettled, 

 and seeing all other o^^position has about 

 died out, you determine to " sit upon " your 



