,' said the landlord; 'he was there, and was offered for
seventy pounds, but didn't find a bidder at any price. What do you think
of him?'

'He's a splendid creature.'

'I am no judge of horses,' said the landlord; 'but I am told he's a
first-rate trotter, good leaper, and has some of the blood of Syntax.
What does all that signify?--the game is against his master, who is a
down pin, is thinking of emigrating, and wants money confoundedly. He
asked seventy pounds at the fair; but, between ourselves, he would be
glad to take fifty here.'

'I almost wish,' said I, 'that I were a rich squire.'

'You would buy him then,' said the landlord. Here he mused for some
time, with a very profound look. 'It would be a rum thing,' said he,
'if, some time or other that horse should come into your hands. Didn't
you hear how he neighed when you talked about leaving the country. My
granny was a wise woman, and was up to all kind of signs and wonders,
sounds and noises, the interpretation of the language of birds and
animals, crowing and lowing, neighing and braying. If she had been here,
she would have said at once that that horse was fated to carry you away.
On that point, however, I can say nothing, for under fifty pounds no one
can have him. Are you taking that money out of your pocket to pay me for
the ale? That won't do; nothing to pay; I invited you this time. Now,
if you are going, you had best get into the road through the yard-gate.
I won't trouble you to make your way through the kitchen and my
fine-weather company--confound them!'

CHAPTER XVIII

MR. PETULENGRO'S DEVICE--THE LEATHERN PURSE--CONSENT TO PURCHASE A HORSE

As I returned along the road I met Mr. Petulengro and one of his
companions, who told me that they were bound for the public-house;
whereupon I informed Jasper how I had seen in the stable the horse which
we had admired at the fair. 'I shouldn't wonder if you buy that horse
after all, brother,' said Mr. Petulengro. With a smile at the absurdity
of such a supposition, I left him and his companion, and betook myself to
the dingle. In the evening I received a visit from Mr. Petulengro, who
forthwith commenced talking about the horse, which he had again seen, the
landlord having shown it to him on learning that he was a friend of mine.
He told me that the horse pleased him more than ever, he having examined
his points with more accuracy than he had an opportunity of doing on the
first oc