242 THE COACHING AGE. 



The horse is consequently disposed of to somebody, 

 poor B. not for a moment suspecting that the objec- 

 tions raised by his groom were entirely fabricated 

 on his part, in order to have another fee from the 

 purchaser, to whom he does not fail to laud the 

 horse up to the skies in the most candid manner, 

 giving his true character, which thus secures a liberal 

 douceur again. 



B., however, feeling somewhat chagrined at what 

 he supposes to be an advantage taken by A. of his 

 want of equine knowledge, gently discloses part of 

 the information received from his groom, suppressing, 

 however, the hint that A. must have known of the 

 state of the horse's constitution. 



A feeling of annoyance is caused on both sides, 

 with a mutual tacit resolution not to have any 

 further dealing; and B. carries out this resolution 

 by procuring another horse without resorting to his 

 friend. This further increases the coolness between 

 them, and they cease to be on the former good terms. 



That such occurrences are by no means unfrequent, 

 I am perfectly well aware ; and this fact will, I think, 

 sufficiently show the prudence of the advice with 

 which I set out — ' Don't.' 



