40 



especially where if followed it might tend to interrupt 

 the golden free trade in promissory paper. But to 

 inveigh against betting is not my intention. I love 

 it. Bet away, say I, to yom- heart's content, only 

 it would be an extra security if all the amounts were 

 deposited at the time the bets were made ; or if all 

 were put in the pillory who failed to pay, and were 

 afterwards kept working on the roads until they had 

 earned sufficient to do so. The depositing first, how- 

 ever, would obviate all difficulties and unpleasant- 

 ness. 



My former two letters I find have proved highly 

 displeasing, not only to a martial man but a martial 

 martyr, whose legs after perusing them were observed 

 to quiver very similar to some of his own horses, for 

 he very naturally thought that the expose of tremu- 

 lous and bent legs might be somewhat injurious to 

 their sale. It was on the 31st of March, as I was 

 travelling down from the upper counties, I found 

 myself seated opposite two good-looking men — the one 

 fair, the other dark. These turned out to be Count 

 Garniture and Colonel Backgammon. The former 

 rummaging his handsome morocco bag, pulled out 

 the foregoing two letters and handed them to his 

 friend. The latter, after perusal, returned them 

 muttering the words : " Great humbug ! " but adding, — 



