for the
horse at present under the hammer. To him approaches a grave
and closely-shaven personage, in black garments, of clerical
cut, a dirty-white tie, and a crush felt hat._

_Clerical Gent_. They are running that flea-bitten grey up pretty
well, are they not. Sir?

_Inexperienced Person_. Ahem! ye-es, I suppose they are. I--er--was
half thinking of bidding myself, but it's going a bit beyond me, I
fear.

_C.G._ Ah, plant, Sir--to speak the language of these horsey
vulgarians--a regular plant! You are better out of it, believe me.

_I.P._ _In_-deed! You don't say so?

_C.G._ (_sighing_). Only too true. Sir. Why--(_in a gush of
confidence_)--look at my own case. Being obliged to leave the country,
and give up my carriage, I put my horse into this sale, at a _very_
low reserve of twenty pounds. (_Entre nous_, it's worth at least
double that.) Between the Auctioneer, and a couple of rascally
horse-dealers--who I found out, by pure accident, wanted my animal
particularly _for a match pair_--the sale of my horse is what _they_
call "bunnicked up." _Then_ they come to me, and offer me money. I
spot their game, and am so indignant that I'll have nothing to do with
them, at _any_ price. Wouldn't sell dear old _Bogey_, whom my wife
and children are so fond of, to such brutal blackguards, on _any_
consideration. No, Sir, the horse has done me good service--a sounder
nag never walked on four hoofs; and I'd rather sell it to a good,
kind master, for twenty pounds, aye, or even eighteen, than let these
rascals have it, though they _have_ run up as high as thirty q----,
ahem! guineas.

_I.P._ Have they indeed, now? And what have you done with the horse?

_C.G._ Put it into livery close by, Sir. And, unless I can find a good
master for it, by Jove, I'll take it back again, and _give it away to
a friend_. Perhaps, Sir, you'd like to have a look at the animal. The
stables are only in the next street, and--as a friend, and with no
eye to business--I should be pleased to show poor _Bogey_ to anyone so
sympathetic as yourself.

[_I.P., after some further chat of a friendly nature, agrees
to go and "run his eye over him."_

SCENE II.--_Greengrocer's yard at side of a seedy house in a
shabby street, slimy and straw-bestrewn. Yard is paved with
lumpy, irregular cobbles, and some sooty and shaky-looking
sheds stand at the bottom thereof. Enter together, Clerical
Gent and Inexperienced Per