Conversation took a brisk turn, and nothing but the darkness of the night
prevented their having the horse out and trying him. Pacey wanted him
brought into the dining-room, _a la_ Briggs, but Puff wouldn't stand that.
The transfer seemed to have invested the animal with supernatural charms,
and those who in general cared nothing about horses wanted to have a sight
of him.
Toasting having commenced, as usual, it was proceeded with. Sponge's health
followed that of Mr. Pacey's, Mr. Puffington availing himself of the
opportunity afforded by proposing it, of expressing the gratification it
afforded himself and all true sportsmen to see so distinguished a character
in the country; and he concluded by hoping that the diminution of his stud
would not interfere with the length of his visit--a toast that was drunk
with great applause.
Mr. Sponge replied by saying, 'That he certainly had not intended parting
with his horse, though one more or less was neither here nor there,
especially in these railway times, when a man had nothing to do but take a
half-guinea's worth of electric wire, and have another horse in less than
no time; but Mr.
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