'I rather think not. I knew what that mare was well enough. A
dealer would have had three hundred and fifty pounds for her. I
could have got the money easily if I had taken her down into the
shires, and ridden her a day or two myself.'

'I gave you what you asked.'

'Yes, you did. It isn't often that I take less than I ask. But the
fact is, about horses. I don't know whether I shouldn't do better
if I never owned an animal at all but those I want for my own use.
When I am dealing with a man I call a friend, I can't bear to make
money of him. I don't think fellows give me all the credit they
should do for sticking to them.' The Major, as he said this,
leaned back in his chair, put his hand up to his mustache, and
looked sadly away into the vacancy of the room, as though he were
meditating sorrowfully on the ingratitude of the world.

'I suppose it's all right about Cream Cheese?' asked the Lord.

'Well; it ought to be.' And now the Major spoke like an oracle,
leaning forward on the table, uttering his words in a low voice,
but very plainly, so that not a syllable might be lost. 'When you
remember how he ran at the Craven with 9st 12lb on him, that it
took Archbishop all he knew to beat him with only 9st 2lb, and
what the lot at Chester are likely to be, I don't think that there
can be seven to one against him. I should be very glad to take it
off your hands, only the figures are a little too heavy for me.'

'I suppose Sunflower'll be the best animal there?'