would be the time for a display,' thought I; and looking around me I
observed two five-barred gates, one on each side of the road, and
fronting each other. Turning my horse's head to one, I pressed my heels
to his sides, loosened the reins, and gave an encouraging cry, whereupon
the animal cleared the gate in a twinkling. Before he had advanced ten
yards in the field to which the gate opened, I had turned him round, and
again giving him cry and rein, I caused him to leap back again into the
road, and still allowing him head, I made him leap the other gate; and
forthwith turning him round, I caused him to leap once more into the
road, where he stood proudly tossing his head, as much as to say, 'What
more?' 'A fine horse! a capital horse!' said several of the
connoisseurs. 'What do you ask for him?' 'Too much for any of you to
pay,' said I. 'A horse like this is intended for other kind of customers
than any of you.' 'How do you know that?' said one; the very same person
whom I had heard complaining in the street of the paucity of good horses
in the fair. 'Come, let us know what you ask for him?' 'A hundred and
fifty pounds,' said I; 'neither more nor less.' 'Do you call that a
great price?' said the man. 'Why, I thought you would have asked double
that amount! You do yourself injustice, young man.' 'Perhaps I do,'
said I, 'but that's my affair; I do not choose to take more.' 'I wish
you would let me get into the saddle,' said the man; 'the horse knows
you, and therefore shows to more advantage; but I should like to see how
he would move under me, who am a stranger. Will you let me get into the
saddle, young man?' 'No,' said I; 'I will not let you get into the
saddle.' 'Why not?' said the man. 'Lest you should be a Yorkshireman,'
said I, 'and should run away with the horse.' 'Yorkshire?' said the man;
'I am from Suffolk, silly Suffolk, so you need not be afraid of my
running away with the horse.' 'Oh! if that's the case,' said I, 'I
should be afraid that the horse would run away with you; so I will by no
means let you mount.' 'Will you let me look in his mouth?' said the man.