'"
"Come, come," remonstrated Victor, "a good rider could manage the
brute, surely?"
"Not the cove as drove a mail-phaeton and pair in the skies, and was
chucked out of it, which served him right--not even that sky-larking
cove could hold in the 'Buffalo.' He's got a mouth made of cast-iron,
and there ain't a curb made, work 'em how you will, that's any more to
him than a lady's bonnet-ribbon. He got a good name for his jumping as
a steeple-chaser; but when he'd been the death of three jocks and two
gentlemen riders, folks began to get rather shy of him and his jumping;
and then Captain Chesterly come and planted him on my guv'nor, which
more fool my governor to take him at any price, says I. And now, sir,
I've stood your friend, and give you a honest warning; and perhaps it
ain't going too far to say that I've saved your life, in a manner of
speaking. So I hope you'll bear in mind that I'm a poor man with a
fambly, and that I can't afford to waste my time in giving good advice
to strange gents for nothing."
Victor Carrington took out his purse, and handed Mr. Hawkins a
sovereign. A look of positive rapture mingled with the habitual cunning
of the groom's countenance as he received this donation.
"I call that handsome, guv'nor," he exclaimed, "and I ain't above
saying so."
"Take another glass of brandy, Hawkins."
"Thank you kindly, sir; I don't care if I do," answered the groom; and
again he replenished his glass with the coarse and fiery spirit.
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