trapper, who held down his head, muttering, in a surly tone,
"I didn't come here to fight; let every one take his own part." "That's
right, Symmonds," said the other, "especially every one from whom there
is nothing to be got. I would give you half-a-crown for all the trouble
you have had, provided I were not afraid that my Lord Plume there would
get it from you as soon as you leave the yard together. Come, take
yourselves both off; there's nothing to be made here." Indeed, his
lordship seemed to be of the same opinion, for after a further glance at
the horse, a contemptuous look at me, and a scowl at the jockey, he
turned on his heel, muttering something which sounded like fellows, and
stalked out of the yard, followed by Symmonds.

"And now, young man," said the jockey, or whatever he was, turning to me
with an arch leer, "I suppose I may consider myself as the purchaser of
this here animal, for the use and behoof of this young gentleman?" making
a sign with his head to the tall young man by his side. "By no means,"
said I, "I am utterly unacquainted with either of you, and before parting
with the horse I must be satisfied as to the respectability of the
purchaser." "Oh! as to that matter," said he, "I have plenty of vouchers
for my respectability about me;" and thrusting his hand into his bosom
below his waistcoat, he drew out a large bundle of notes. "These are the
kind of things," said he, "which vouch best for a man's respectability."
"Not always," said I; "indeed, sometimes these kind of things need
vouchers for themselves." The man looked at me with a peculiar look. "Do
you mean to say that these notes are not sufficient notes?" said he,
"because if you do I shall take the liberty of thinking you are not over
civil, and when I thinks a person is not over and above civil I sometimes
takes off my coat; and when my coat is off--" "You sometimes knock
people down," I added; "well, whether you knock me down or not, I beg
leave to tell you that I am a stranger in this fair, and that I shall
part with the horse to nobody who has no better guarantee for his
respectability than a roll of bank-notes, which may be good or not for
what I know, who am not a judge of such things." "Oh! if you are a
stranger here," said the man, "as I believe you are, never having seen
you here before except last night, when I think I saw you above stairs by
the glimmer of a candle--I say, if you are a stranger, you are quite
right t