_Checkley._ In course, sir, _you_ see what's running in Mr. Adams's 'ed all this time, what he's a-driving at, eh? _Undershell_ (_to himself_). I only wish I did! This will require tact. (_Aloud._) I--I could hardly avoid seeing _that_--could I? _Checkley._ _I_ should think not. And it stands to reason as a vet like yourself'd spot a thing like navickler fust go off. _Undershell_ (_to himself_). A vet! They've been taking me for a vet all this time! I can't have been so ignorant as I thought. I really don't like to undeceive them--they might feel annoyed. (_Aloud, knowingly._) To be sure, I--I spotted it at once. _Adams._ He _does_ make it out navicular after all! What did I tell you, Checkley? Now p'raps you'll believe _me_! _Checkley._ I'll be shot if that 'orse has navickler, whoever says so--there! _Adams_ (_gloomily_). It's the 'orse 'll 'ave to be shot; worse luck! I'd ha' give something if Mr. Undershell could ha' shown I was wrong; but there was very little doubt in _my_ mind what it was all along. _Undershell_ (_to himself, horrified_). I've been pronouncing this unhappy animal's doom without knowing it! I must tone it down. (_Aloud._) No--no, I never said he must be shot. There's no reason to despair. It--it's quite a mild form of er--clavicular--not at all infectious at present. And the horse has a splendid constitution. I--I really think he'll soon be himself again, if we only--er--leave Nature to do her work, you know. _Adams_ (_after a prolonged whistle_). Well, if Nature ain't better up in her work than you seem to be, it's 'igh time she chucked it, and took to something else. You've a lot to learn about navicular, _you_ 'ave, if you can talk such rot as that! [Illustration: "YOU'VE A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT NAVICULAR, YOU 'AVE, IF YOU CAN TALK SUCH ROT AS THAT!"] _Checkley._ Ah, I've 'ad to do with a vet or two in my time, but I'm blest if I ever come across the likes o' _you_ afore! _Undershell_ (_to himself_). I _knew_ they'd find me out! I must pacify them. (_Aloud._) But, look here, I'm _not_ a vet. I never said I _was_. It was your mistake entirely. The fact is, my--my good men, I came down here because--well, it's unnecessary to explain now _why_ I came. But I'm most anxious to get away, and if you, my dear Mr. Checkley, could let me have a trap to take me to Shuntingbridge to-night, I should feel extremely obliged. [CHECKLEY _stares, deprived of speech_. _Adams_ (_with a private wink to_ CHECKLEY). Certainly he will, sir. I'm sure Checkley 'll feel proud to turn out, late as it is, to oblige a gentleman with your remarkable knowledge of 'orseflesh. Drive you over hisself in the broom and pair, _I_ shouldn't wonder!