THE SELLER BEING FROTHED UP. 365 



because this is the time to remind the gentleman of a 

 little observation made by Nickem at the commence- 

 ment of the business, and kept in reserve for use when 

 wanted. Nickem now thinks it is lo anted ; so saj^s, 

 " I am not so much surprised as you are, Sir, at the 

 horse having this corn ; for if you remember, I told 

 you when I saw him out, I thought he did not run level. 

 When I had him shod, I did not like to cut his foot too 

 much down to examine it ; but when the veterinary 

 surgeon did, he saw it directly. I am sorry to find 

 I was right after all. I wish we had had him exa- 

 mined at first : it would have saved trouble and time." 

 " Well," exclaims the owner in despair, " what is to 

 be done now ? I suppose we must sell him without 

 warranting him." — "I will do that, if you please," 

 says Nickem ; " but it will be a great loss and pity : 

 had you not better take him home?" — "Home!" 

 cries the thoroughly tired-out customer : " no ; I'll sell 

 him at something; will you buy him, Mr. Nickem?" 

 — Nickem declares " he never buys a horse brought 

 to him for sale : he always avoids that if possible. " — 

 " Well," cries the owner, " can you send for any one 

 who will buy him at once ? " — " Why, " says Nickem, 

 " there is a man likely enough to buy him, but I must 

 tell you he is a confounded rogue. Would you like 

 to speak to him ? " The owner would just now speak 

 to the Old One, if he thought he would buy his horse. 

 Nickem opens the ball with, " Mr. Meddler, I have 

 sold a very fine horse for this gentleman, for fifty : he 

 has been returned for a slight corn ; will you buy 

 him ? " Meddler shakes his head : " No, thank you, 

 Mr. Nickem, I lost enough by the last horse you per- 

 suaded me to buy of a gentleman." — " Well," says 

 Nickem, " but we must take off a five-pound note." 



