THE SPOTTED HORSE's STORY. 181 



"Who is a beauty ? " I iuquired, not at all 

 understanding the position. 



" Why, the Professor," he answered. 

 " Haven't you been to see him ? " 



"I have been to see him very often," I 

 replied. " He's a great friend of mine, and I 

 stay with him a good deal ; but I'm surprised to 

 hear you call him a beauty. He's so bald, and 

 though he says that the blue spectacles assist his 

 sight, I don't think they are, aesthetically, a 

 favourable addition to his appearance." 



Forester appeared to be quite staggered. 



*' Blue spectacles and a bald head ! My dear 

 fellow, are you dreaming?" and he burst out 

 laughing. "Excuse me," he continued, "but 

 the idea of a racehorse with blue spectacles 

 and a bald head is too delicious ! " 



At this moment we were joined by Packen- 

 ham and Dacre. 



" Mr. Forester," I said with solemnity, " will 

 you do me the great favour of explaining what 

 you mean? " 



" What I mean ! My dear fellow, what do 

 you mean ? There's your horse waiting for you 

 — you've surely ridden him often enough before, 

 haven't you ? You spoke of him familiarly 

 enough last night, at any rate — and we shall 

 be late if we don't go and weigh out." 



