the other tapping his whip
against his boot.

"Philips, show this gentleman the brown mare. She is a beauty in
harness, is she not? This gentleman wants a match for his pheaton."

"She must step very hoigh," said the gentleman, turning round: and
Philip recognised the beau in the stage-coach. The recognition was
simultaneous. The beau nodded, then whistled, and winked.

"Come, my man, I am at your service," said he.

Philip, with many misgivings, followed him across the yard. The
gentleman then beckoned him to approach.

"You, sir,--moind, I never peach--setting up here in the honest line?
Dull work, honesty,--eh?"

"Sir, I really don't know you."

"Daun't you recollect old Greggs, the evening you came there with jolly
Bill Gawtrey? Recollect that, eh?" Philip was mute.

"I was among the gentlemen in the back parlour who shook you by the
hand. Bill's off to France, then. I am tauking the provinces. I want a
good horse--the best in the yard, moind! Cutting such a swell here! My
name is Captain de Burgh Smith--never moind yours, my fine faellow. Now,
then, out with your rattlers, and keep your tongue in your mouth."

Philip mechanically ordered out the brown mare, which Captain Smith did
not seem much to approve of; and, after glancing round the stables with
great disdain of the collection, he sauntered out of the yard without
saying more to Philip, though he stopped and spoke a few sentences to
Mr. Stubmore. Philip hoped he had no design of purchasing, and that
he was rid, for the present, of so awkward a customer. Mr. Stubmore
approached Philip.

"Drive over the greys to Sir John," said he. "My lady wants a pair to
job. A very pleasant man, that Captain Smith. I did not know you had
been in a yard before--says you were the pet at Elmore's in London.
Served him many a day. Pleasant, gentlemanlike man!"

"Y-e-s!" said Philip, hardly knowing what he said, and hurrying back
into the stables to order out the greys. The place to which he was bound
was some miles distant, and it was sunset when he returned. As he drove
into the main street, two men observed him closely.

"That is he! I am almost sure it is," said one. "Oh! then it's all
smooth sailing," replied the other.

"But, bless my eyes! you must be mistaken! See whom he's talking to
now!"

At that moment Captain de Burgh Smith, mounted on the brown mare,
stopped Philip.

"Well, you see, I've bought her,--hope she'll turn out well. What do you
really