. Of course, I showed the beast off to the best, and
handled him skilfully. I thought to myself, he likes the pony; he 'll be
for making me an offer for him. I was right. I had just seated myself at
breakfast, when the stranger sent his card, with a request to speak to
me. He was a foreigner, but spoke very correct English, and his object
was to learn if I would sell my horse. It is needless to say that I
refused at once. The animal suited me, and I was one of those people
who find it excessively difficult to be mounted to their satisfaction.
I needed temper, training, action, gentleness, beauty, high courage, and
perfect steadiness, and a number of such-like seeming incongruities.
He looked a little impatient at all this; he seemed to say, 'I know all
this kind of nonsense; I have heard shiploads of such gammon before.
Be frank and say what's the figure; how much do you want for him?' He
looked this, I say, but he never uttered a word, and at last I asked
him,--

"'Are you a dealer?'

"'Well,' said he, with an arch smile, 'something in that line.'

"'I thought so,' said I. 'The pony is a rare good one.'

"He nodded assent.

"'He can jump a bar of his own height?'

"Another nod.

"'And he's as fresh on his legs--'

"'As if he were not twenty-six years old,' he broke in.

"'Twenty-six fiddle-sticks! Look at his mouth; he has an eight-year-old
mouth.'

"'I know it,' said he, dryly; 'and so he had fourteen years ago. Will
you take fifty sovereigns for him?' he added, drawing out a handful of
gold from his pocket.

"'No,' said I, firmly; 'nor sixty, nor seventy, nor eighty!'

"'I am sorry to have intruded upon you,' said he, rising, 'and I beg you
to excuse me. The simple fact is, that I am one who gains his living
by horses, and it is only possible for me to exist by the generosity of
those who deal with me.'

"This appeal was a home thrust, and I said, 'What can you afford to
give?'

"'All I have here,' said he, producing a handful of gold, and spreading
it on the table.

"We set to counting, and there were sixty-seven sovereigns in the mass.
I swept off the money into the palm of my hand, and said, 'The beast is
yours.'

"He drew a long breath, as if to relieve his heart of a load of care,
and said, 'Men of _my_ stamp, and who lead such lives as I do, are
rarely superstitious.'

"'Very true,' said I, with a nod of encouragement for him to go on.

"'Well,' said he, resuming, 'I never thought for a