we reached the place where the fair was to be held. After
breakfasting on bread and cheese and ale behind a broken stone
wall, we drove our animals to the fair. The fair was a common
cattle and horse fair: there was little merriment going on, but
there was no lack of business. By about two o'clock in the
afternoon, Mr. Petulengro and his people had disposed of their
animals at what they conceived very fair prices--they were all in
high spirits, and Jasper proposed to adjourn to a public-house. As
we were proceeding to one, a very fine horse, led by a jockey, made
its appearance on the ground. Mr. Petulengro stopped short, and
looked at it stedfastly: "Fino covar dove odoy sas miro--a fine
thing were that if it were but mine!" he exclaimed. "If you covet
it," said I, "why do you not purchase it?" "We low 'Gyptians never
buy animals of that description; if we did we could never sell
them, and most likely should be had up as horse-stealers." "Then
why did you say just now, 'It were a fine thing if it were but
yours?'" said I. "We 'Gyptians always say so when we see anything
that we admire. An animal like that is not intended for a little
hare like me, but for some grand gentleman like yourself. I say,
brother, do you buy that horse!" "How should I buy the horse, you
foolish person?" said I. "Buy the horse, brother," said Mr.
Petulengro, "if you have not the money I can lend it you, though I
be of lower Egypt." "You talk nonsense," said I; "however, I wish
you would ask the man the price of it." Mr. Petulengro, going up
to the jockey, inquired the price of the horse--the man, looking at
him scornfully, made no reply. "Young man," said I, going up to
the jockey, "do me the favour to tell me the price of that horse,
as I suppose it is to sell." The jockey, who was a surly-looking
man, of about fifty, looked at me for a moment, then, after some
hesitation, said, laconically, "Seventy." "Thank you," said I, and