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Borrow, George Henry, 1803-1881

"The Romany Rye"

" "I wish you would let me speak a word to you," said
he. "Just come aside. It's a nice horse," said he, in a half
whisper, after I had ridden a few paces aside with him. "It's a
nice horse," said he, placing his hand upon the pommel of the
saddle, and looking up in my face, "and I think I can find you 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 an honest penny." "Well,"
said I, "and could he not make an 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.


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