67 



CHAPTER XI. 



THE DEAL, AND THE DISASTER. 



If people are inclined to deal, bargains can very soon be struck at 

 idle watering-places, where anything in the shape of occupation is a 

 godsend, and bargainers know where to find each other in a minute. 

 Everybody knows where everybody is. 



" Have you seen Jack Sprat ? " 



" Oh, yes ; he's just gone into Muddle's Bazaar with Miss Flouncey, 

 looking uncommon sweet." Or — 



" Can you tell me where I shall find Mr. Slowman ? " 



Ansivcr. — " You'll find him at his lodgings, No. 15 Belvidere 

 Terrace, till a quarter before seven. He's gone home to dress, to dine 

 with Major and Mrs. Holdsworthy, at Grunton Villa, for I heard him 

 order Jenkins' fly at that time." 



Caingey Thornton knew exactly when he would find Mr. "Waffles 

 at Miss Lollypop's, the confectioner, eating ices and making love to 

 that very interesting, much-courted young lady. True to his time, 

 there was Waffles, eating and eyeing the cherry- coloured ribbons, float- 

 ing in graceful curls along with her raven-coloured ringlets, down Miss 

 Lollypop's nice fresh plump cheeks. 



After expatiating on the great merits of the horse, and the certainty 

 of getting all the money back by steeple-chasing him in the spring, 

 and stating his conviction that Mr. Sponge would not take any part 

 of the purchase-money in pictures or jewellery, or anything of that 

 sort, Mr. Waffles gcive his consent to deal, on the terms the following 

 conversation shows. 



u 31 y friend will give you your price, if you wouldn't mind taking 

 his cheque and keeping it for a few months till he's into funds," ob- 

 served Mr. Thornton, who now sought Mr. Sponge out at the billiard- 

 room. 



" Why," observed Mr. Sponge, thoughtfully, "you know horses are 

 always ready money." 



"True," replied Thornton; "at least that's the theory of the 

 thing; only my friend is rather peculiarly situated at present." 



" I suppose Mr. Waffles is your man ? " observed Mr. Sponge, 

 rightly judging that there couldn't be two such flats in the place. 



" Just so," said Mr. Thornton. 



" I'd rather take his ' stiff' than his cheque," observed Mr. Sponge, 

 after a pause. " I could get a bit of stiff done, but a cheque you see 

 — especially a post-dated one — is always objected to." 



" Well, I dare say that will make no difference," observed Mr. 



