342 CUTTING IN AND CUTTING OUT. 



going forward : lie is not always seen in the yard ; 

 but is enough there to know every horse in it, and 

 somewhere about his price. Well ! he sees a gentleman 

 looking at one there. Knowing the horse, he knows 

 at once the description of animal wanted : he does 

 not of course openly interfere in this case, or even 

 suffer himself to be seen if he can prevent it : he has 

 had a glimpse of the horse from the street, and that 

 is enough for him. The gentleman leaves the yard : 

 if he has so closed the bargain as to be unable to be 

 off it, or, as iMeddler says, to be choked off, Mr. Med- 

 dler has lost his chance : but very probably the cus- 

 tomer may not have quite done this : my life on it 

 Meddler trots after him. " Beg your pardon. Sir, I 



saw you looking at a horse in 's yard. I know 



the horse very well ; he was bought (so and so) : I 

 don't wish to interfere I'm sure, but I know a horse 

 would suit you exactly : he belongs to a private Gen- 

 tleman " (or Tradesman, as the case may be). He 

 takes the customer to see the horse or others, if he 

 can persuade him to do so : in fact, having got hold 

 of him, he never leaves him if he can help it ; and 

 thus takes a customer from the dealer, and, further, 

 secures one for himself. Thus are these sneaks the 

 bane of dealers. It is true they may order ]\Ir. 

 Meddler not to enter their yard ; but then, in certain 

 situations, by making such a man an enemy, his tongue 

 can (and it will not be his fault if it does not) do an 

 incredible deal of mischief; so the dealer is forced to 

 bear the nuisance, and manage as well as he can, by 

 from time to time throwing a sop to these Cerberi. 



At fairs you will be sure to find Meddler: he is 

 either taken there by, or goes to meet, some dealer 

 from a distance ; the dealer is aware Meddler knows 



