I say, have you sold
your bay?'

'No, d----n me, I can't get my price.'

'Why, what is it you axes?'{3}

'Only a hundred and thirty--got by Agamemnon. Lord, it's no price at
all--cheap as dirt--But I say, Bill,

1 Blue moon--This is usually intended to imply a long time.

2 Painted peeper--A black eye.

3 Axes--Among the swell lads, and those who affect the
characters of knowing coveys, there is a common practice of
endeavouring to coin new words and new modes of expression,
evidently intended to be thought wit; and this affectation
frequently has the effect of creating a laugh.

~164~~how do you come on with your grey, and the pie-bald poney?'

'All right and regular, my boy; matched the poney for a light curricle,
and I swapped{1} the grey for an entire horse--such a rum one--when
will you come and take a peep at him?--all bone, fine shape and action,
figure beyond compare--I made a rare good chop of it.'

'I'm glad to hear it; I'll make a survey, and take a ride with you the
first leisure day; but I'm full of business, no time to spare--I say,
are, you a dealer?'

'No, no, it won't do, I lost too much at the Derby--besides, I must go
and drive my Girl out--_Avait, that's the time of day_,{2} my boys--so
good by--But if you should be able to pick up a brace of clever
pointers, a prime spaniel, or a greyhound to match Smut, I'm your
man--buy for me, and all's right--price, you know, is out of the
question, I must have them if they are to be got, so look out--bid and
buy; but mind, nothing but prime will do for me--that's the time of day,
you know, d----n me--so good by--I'm off.' And away he went.

"Some great sporting character, I suppose," said Bob--"plenty of money."

"No such thing," said Tom, drawing him on one side--"you will hardly
believe that Bill is nothing more than a Shopman to a Linen-draper,
recently discharged for malpractices; and the other has been a Waiter
at a Tavern, but is now out of place; and they are both upon the
sharp look-out to _gammon the flats_. The former obtains his present
livelihood by gambling--spends the most of his time in playing cards
with _greenhorns_, always to be picked up at low flash houses, at fairs,
races, milling-matches, &c. and is also in the holy keeping of the
cast-off mistress of a nobleman whose family he was formerly in as a
_valet-de-chambre_. The other pretends to teach sparring in the City,
and occasionally has a