I felt I was in such highly respectable hands, that I thought it would look like an insult to ask for a trial before paying, especially as I was to have a written warranty.
Just by way of airing him, he was trotted up and down the yard; and he certainly went superbly, with fine high action, and with eyes full of courage.
The money was paid, and the stamped warranty was given, and I directed the groom to send him to my own stable in town, and returned by the evening-train to the rectory.
“Well, papa, what about the horse?” were the first words with which I was greeted by Miss Beaty.
“Well, my darling, it really is a superb creature, and will become you mightily.”
“Didn’t I tell you, papa,” said she, kissing me, “that it would turn out well? You know I have a kind of presentiment about these things. You know I always get just what I want, just in the nick of time.”
“Well, well, my dear, we shall see,” I replied, pleased with myself and her also.
The next morning, on returning to town, I thought that, just for form’s sake, I would have his paces tried by a good rider, before ordering him to be sent home. Accordingly, I got a groom from a neighbouring mews. After giving my new purchase a good feed of com, the groom mounted him. He certainly did not start very well; he swerved right round to begin with.
“He was only having a bit of play,” the groom said, “after his corn.”
He was trotted up and down, and the groom thought that, with regular work, he would go very well. At the same time, he gave “the office,” as it is termed, to a fellow-groom that was standing by. Presently he said the horse had suddenly hurt his foot on a stone; and he certainly flinched with one foot whenever it was brought down on the hard road. It was very provoking; besides, why should the groom have winked in the way he did? It was all right, of course; but, perhaps, it would be but fair to have the opinion of a “vet.” at once, instead of waiting for the three weeks’ stipulated trial.
Accordingly, the “vet.” was sent for, and came.
The moment he entered the stable, he gave the same comical sort of grin the groom had done.
“Ah! an old acquaintance,” he exclaimed.
“Impossible,” I said, somewhat hurt at his familiarity; “he has just come out of Northamptonshire.”
“At all events, I have seen him bought and sold, over and over again, at Aldridge’s,” he rejoined.
“Why, he was late the property of Squire , of Hall,” I said, in amazement.
“Very good,” replied the “vet.”; “but if you will be kind enough to inspect his near forefoot, you will find a sand-crack—a split hoof,—very cleverly disguised with coloured wax.”
I did look at his foot, as desired; and there was the crack, so artfully filled up that I never should have discovered it myself.
“Why, I know the horse to be dead-lame,” said the “vet.”, “and there is no cure for it.”
Dear me, how my old friend, the groom, must have been deceived; but, at least, I had a written warranty, and I determined to see him again.
The old groom was busy as before, “wis’ss, wis’ss, wis’ss.” I told him what I had discovered, but he was as calm and stolid as ever.
“Well, you know, gemman, what Squire said. If you don’t like ’un, return ’un, and there’s your money for you.”
I almost felt indignant with the “vet.” for creating any suspicion on my mind as to the transaction; and I mildly communicated to him, when I next saw him, my belief that the very respectable vendor was perfectly innocent in the matter, and that my money was quite safe.
“If you send back the horse,” he replied, “you will never see either it or your money again. Take my advice, and send him to the next sale at Aldridge’s, and put up with the first loss.”
Against my will, I was at length convinced, and the “horse of great beauty” was knocked down for seven pounds. I am ashamed to say how much I gave for him; but let that pass. I have every reason to believe that he fell into the old hands, to whom, in fact, he was a regular annuity. I see the same advertisement appearing at regular intervals in the Times, and I have no manner of doubt that the old groom, the old physician, and the “horse of great beauty,” with the wax-dressed hoof, go through their parts, during the season, with as much success and aplomb as on the occasion when I was the audience and the victim.
What Beaty said to me when I got home, and how I twitted her about her presentiment, it is not necessary to repeat. But this I know, the very respectable horse-coper must bait his hook with something different from a “horse of great beauty” before he gets another bite from the Country Parson.
