a customer. If you
would take a hundred, I think my lord would purchase it, for he has sent
me about the fair to look him up a horse, by which he could hope to make
a honest penny.' 'Well,' said I, 'and could he not make a honest penny,
and yet give me the price I ask?' 'Why,' said the go-between, 'a hundred
and fifty pounds is as much as the animal is worth, or nearly so; and my
lord, do you see--' 'I see no reason at all,' said I, 'why I should sell
the animal for less than he is worth, in order that his lordship may be
benefited by him; so that if his lordship wants to make an honest penny,
he must find some person who would consider the disadvantage of selling
him a horse for less than it is worth, as counterbalanced by the honour
of dealing with a lord, which I should never do; but I can't be wasting
my time here. I am going back to the ---, where if you, or any person,
are desirous of purchasing the horse, you must come within the next
half-hour, or I shall probably not feel disposed to sell him at all.'
'Another word, young man,' said the jockey; but without staying to hear
what he had to say, I put the horse to his best trot, and re-entering the
town, and threading my way as well as I could through the press, I
returned to the yard of the inn, where, dismounting, I stood still,
holding the horse by the bridle.

I had been standing in this manner about five minutes, when I saw the
jockey enter the yard, accompanied by another individual. They advanced
directly towards me. 'Here is my lord come to look at the horse, young
man,' said the jockey. My lord, {224} as the jockey called him, was a
tall figure of about five-and-thirty. He had on his head a hat somewhat
rusty, and on his back a surtout of blue rather the worse for wear. His
forehead, if not high, was exceedingly narrow; his eyes were brown, with
a rat-like glare in them; the nose was rather long, and the mouth very
wide; the cheek-bones high, and the cheeks, as to hue and consistency,
exhibiting very much the appearance of a withered red apple; there was a
gaunt expression of hunger in the whole countenance. He had scarcely
glanced at the horse, when drawing in his cheeks, he thrust out his lips
very much after the manner of a baboon, when he sees a piece of sugar
held out towards him. 'Is this horse yours?' said he, suddenly turning
towards me, with a kind of smirk. 'It's my horse,' said I; 'are you the
person who wishes to make a honest penny