FINDING OUT A CUSTOMER. 265 



says much on a stranger first going into his stable. 

 He probably touches his hat, civilly opens his doors 

 (if shut), and follows him, watching, as I have said, 

 every cast of the eye and act of his customer: in 

 short, he feels his man before he ventures to make 

 an observation himself: for if, for instance, he was 

 to point out some flashy nondescript spider-legged 

 wretch to a judge, he would turn round and give him 

 a look, as much as to say, " You are either a rogue or 

 take me for a fool ; " neither of which conclusions it 

 is the dealer's interest his customer should draw. On 

 the other hand, if he were to particularise a really 

 good sort of horse, without such an imposing appear- 

 ance in the stable as his showy neighbour, the non- 

 judge would draw the same conclusion as the other. 

 So, in either case, the dealer would get into a scrape ; 

 and for this reason he wisely holds his tongue till he 

 finds in what way he should employ it to advantage. 

 If from the taciturnity or equivocal conduct of his 

 customers the dealer should still have any doubts on 

 his mind about them, let the two go into a horse's 

 stall to look at him : the thing is settled ; the mere 

 manner of doing this decides it. The one, after looking 

 scientifically at his horse, speaks to him, and then 

 walks decisively at once up to his head, and keeps 

 that wary look at his heels and eye as he approaches 

 him which experience has taught him is a necessary 

 precaution. The very "wo-ho, horse," or "wo-ho, 

 my man," as he goes up to him, shows the dealer his 

 customer knows what he is about. He now knows 

 what to do, and what kind of language to hold. But 

 let the other attempt the same thing, he could no 

 more do it in the same way than he could fly : he 

 would (at least such men generally, I may say inva- 



