Page 77 - A Jacobite Exile

both parties.

On their return to the inn, Mr. Jervoise took the host aside.

"We have business connected with our trade in cloth in Sweden, where we
hope to obtain a large contract. The matter may occupy us a week, or a
month or two for aught we know, and we do not want our horses to be

eating their heads off, here, while we are away. Besides, we may be able,
on our return, to take a passage to one of the Devonshire ports, which

would suit us much better. But we should not be able to do so, if there were
need for returning here for our horses. Therefore, we would fain dispose of
them, and, if you can find us a purchaser by tomorrow night, we will pay

you a fair commission on the money we receive."

"I doubt not that I can do that readily enough," the landlord said. "Three of
them are fine animals, fit for any gentleman's riding. The other is a stout
hackney. Trust me, I will get the best price I can for them."

The next day he came up to their room.

"I have had a good offer for the horses," he said. "Two gentlemen, who
arrived yesterday from France, and are staying at the inn of a friend of

mine, are requiring horses for themselves and their servants, and I have
promised my friend a slice of my commission, if he will bring them round

hither. Will you name your price for them?"

"No, I would rather not," Mr. Jervoise said cautiously. "If we asked too

high a figure, we might frighten the purchasers away. If we should ask too
little, we should be the losers. I daresay they have named, to your friend,

the price they are willing to give. You had better ask from them a good bit
above that, then you can come down little by little, and maybe, seeing the
horses are really good ones, they may advance a bit. I am not used to a

horse deal, and will leave it to you to make the bargain. We are sorry to
part with the animals, but they might die on the voyage, or get so injured as

to be worthless; and, moreover, we shall have no use for them there.
Therefore, as we must sell, we are ready to take the best terms we can get."