tainted with the rot, were not yet dead; he was eager to sell them, but
no one would buy sheep of such a wretched appearance. At last Wright
took them off his hands. "I will throw the threescore jackets into the
bargain," said Marvel; "for you are a generous fellow, to offer so
handsomely for my poor sheep, and you deserve to be treated as you treat
others. If I come in at the end of the ten years for the legacy, I shall
remember you, as I told you before: as to my cousin Goodenough here, he
thinks so much of himself, that there is no occasion for others to think
of him. I asked him to join me in a bond, yesterday, for a hundred
pounds, just to try him, and he refused me. When I come in for the
legacy, I will cut him off with a shilling,--I will give him fair
notice."

"Cut me off with what you will," said Goodenough, sullenly, "not a
farthing of my money shall ever be lent to one that has a project for
every day in the year. Get into what difficulties you may, I will never
join you in any bond, I promise you. It is enough for me to take care of
myself."

"Don't flatter yourself that I am getting into any difficulties,"
replied Marvel. "I wanted the hundred guineas only to pay for a horse;
and the friend who sold him to me will wait my convenience."

"The _friend_" said Wright; "do you mean that man who rode home with you
from Spalding?--I advise you not to make a friend of him, for he is a
notorious jockey." "He will not take _me_ in, though," said Marvel; "I
am as sharp as he is, and he sees that: so we understand one another
very well. To my certain knowledge, a hundred and twenty guineas could
be had to-morrow for the horse I bought from him; yet he let me have him
for a hundred."