164 MR. sponge's sporting tour. 



rather his lordship's, and staggering to the chimney-piece for a match, 

 though there was a candle at his elbow, " I'll have a pipe." 



" So'll I," said Sponge, " if you'll give me a cigar." 



" Much yours as mine," replied Jack, handing him his lordship's 

 richly embroidered case with coronets and ciphers on either side, the 

 gift of one of the many would-be Lady Scamperdales. 



" "Want a light ! " hiccupped Jack, who had now got a glow-worm 

 end to his. 



" Thanks," said Sponge, availing himself of the friendly overture. 



Our friends now whiffed and puffed away together — whiffing and 

 puffing where whiffing and puffing had never been known before. The 

 brandy began to disappear pretty quickly ; it was better than the 

 wine. 



" That's a n — n — nice — ish horse of yours," stammered Jack, as 

 he mixed himself a second tumbler. 



" Which ? " asked Sponge. 



" The bur — bur — brown," spluttered Jack. 



" He is that" renlied Sponge ; " best horse in this country by 

 far." 



" The che — che — chest — nut's not a ba — ba — bad un, I dare say," 

 observed Jack. 



" No, he's not," replied Sponge ; " a deuced good un." 



" I know a man who's rayther s — s — s — sweet on the b — b — br — 

 brown," observed Jack, squinting frightfully. 



Sponge sat silent for a few seconds, pretending to be wrapt up in 

 his " sublime tobacco." 



" Is he a buyer, or just a jawer ? " he asked at last. 



" Oh, a buyer," replied Jack. 



" I'll sell" said Sponge, with a strong emphasis on the sell. 



" How much ? " asked Jack, sobering with the excitement. 



" Which ? " asked Sponge. 



" The brown," rejoined Jack. 



" Three hundred," said Sponge; " adding, " I gave two for him." 



" Indeed ! " said Jack. 



A long pause then ensued, Jack thinking whether he should put 

 the question boldly as to what Sponge would give him for effecting a 

 sale, or should beat about the bush a little. At last he thought it 

 would be most prudent to beat about the bush, and see if Sponge 

 would make an offer. 



" Well," said Jack, " I'll s— s— s— see what I can do." 



" That's a good fellow," said Spouge ; adding, ''I'll remember you 

 if you do." 



" I dare say I can s — s — s — sell them both, for that matter," ob- 

 served Jack, encouraged by the promise. 



"Well," replied Sponge, "I'll take the same for the chestnut; 

 there isn't the toss-up of a halfpenny for choice between them." 



