_Check._ I knew he would! Now you've _got_ it, ADAMS! _I_ can see Mr. UNDERSHELL knows what he's about. _Adams_ (_persistently_). But look at this 'ere pastern. You can't deny there's puffiness there. How do you get over _that_? _Und._ If the horse is puffy, it's _his_ business to get over it--not mine. _Adams_ (_aggrieved_). You may think proper to treat it light, Sir; but if you put your 'and down 'ere, above the coronet, you'll feel a throbbing as plain as---- _Und._ Very likely. But I don't know, really, that it would afford me any particular gratification if I _did_! _Adams._ Well, if you don't take _my_ view, I should ha' thought as you'd want to feel the 'orse's pulse. _Und._ You are quite mistaken. I don't. (_To himself._) Particularly as I shouldn't know where to find it. What a bore this fellow is with his horse! _Check._ In course, Sir, _you_ see what's running in Mr. ADAMS' 'ed all this time, what he's a-driving at, eh? _Und._ (_to himself_). I only wish I did! This will require tact. (_Aloud._) I--I could hardly avoid seeing _that_--could I? _Check._ I should think not. And it stands to reason as a vet like yourself'd spot a thing like navickler fust go off. _Und._ (_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'r'aps you'll believe _me_! _Check._ 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. _Und._ (_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! _Check._ 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!