casion, concluding by pressing me to buy him. I begged him to
desist from such foolish importunity, assuring him that I had never so
much money in all my life as would enable me to purchase the horse.
Whilst this discourse was going on, Mr. Petulengro and myself were
standing together in the midst of the dingle. Suddenly he began to move
round me in a very singular manner, making strange motions with his
hands, and frightful contortions with his features, till I became
alarmed, and asked him whether he had not lost his senses? Whereupon,
ceasing his movements and contortions, he assured me that he had not, but
had merely been seized with a slight dizziness, and then once more
returned to the subject of the horse. Feeling myself very angry, I told
him that if he continued persecuting me in this manner, I should be
obliged to quarrel with him; adding, that I believed his only motive for
asking me to buy the animal was to insult my poverty. 'Pretty poverty,'
said he, 'with fifty pounds in your pocket; however, I have heard say,
that it is always the custom of your rich people to talk of their
poverty, more especially when they wish to avoid laying out money.'
Surprised at his saying that I had fifty pounds in my pocket, I asked him
what he meant; whereupon he told me that he was very sure that I had
fifty pounds in my pocket, offering to lay me five shillings to that
effect. 'Done,' said I; 'I have scarcely more than the fifth part of
what you say.' 'I know better, brother,' said Mr. Petulengro; 'and if
you only pull out what you have in the pocket of your slop, I am sure you
will have lost your wager.' Putting my hand into the pocket, I felt
something which I had never felt there before, and pulling it out,
perceived that it was a clumsy leathern purse, which I found, on opening,
contained four ten-pound notes, and several pieces of gold. 'Didn't I
tell you so, brother?' said Mr. Petulengro. 'Now, in the first place,
please to pay me the five shillings you have lost.' 'This is only a
foolish piece of pleasantry,' said I; 'you put it into my pocket whilst
you were moving about me, making faces like a distracted person. Here,
take your purse back.' 'I?' said Mr. Petulengro, 'not I, indeed! don't
think I am such a fool. I have won my wager, so pay me the five
shillings, brother.' 'Do drop this folly,' said I, 'and take your
purse;' and I flung it on the ground. 'Brother,' said Mr. Petulengro,
'you were talking