contortions, he assured me that he had not, but had merely been seized with a slight dizziness, and then once more returned to the subject of the horse.  Feeling myself very angry, I told him that if he continued persecuting me in that manner, I should be obliged to quarrel with him; adding, that I believed his only motive for asking me to 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 buy that horse?” said I.  “He’s to be sold for fifty pounds,” said Jasper, “and is worth four times that sum; though, like many a splendid bargain, he is now going a begging; buy him, and I’m