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; "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 I 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 of quarrelling with me just now. I tell you now one
thing, which is, that if you do not take back the purse I will quarrel
with you; and it shall be for good and all. I'll drop your acquaintance,
no longer call you my pal, and not even say sarshan to you when I meet
you by the roadside. Hir mi diblis I never will." I saw by Jasper's
look and tone that he was in earnest, and, as I had really a regard for
the strange being, I scarcely knew what to do. "Now, be persuaded,
brother," said Mr. Petulengro, taking up the purse, and handing it to me;
"be persuaded; put the purse into your pocket, and buy the horse."
"Well," said I, "if I did so, would you acknowledge the horse to be
yours, and receive the money again as soon as I should be able to repay
you?"

"I would, brother, I would," said he; "return me the money as soon as you
please, provided you buy the horse." "What motive have you for wishing
me to