"I could have almost hugged the old fellow for his happy suggestion, and waited with impatience for three o'clock to come, when we repaired together to Essex-bridge, at that time the place selected for these sales. "I was at first a little shocked at the look of the animals drawn up; they were most miserably thin--most of them swelled in the legs--few without sore backs--and not one eye, on an average, in every three; but still they were all high steppers, and carried a great tail. 'There's your affaire,' said the old Frenchman, as a long-legged fiddle-headed beast was led out; turning out his forelegs so as to endanger the man who walked beside him. "'Yes, there's blood for you, said Charley Dycer, seeing my eye fixed on the wretched beast; 'equal to fifteen stone with any foxhounds; safe in all his paces, and warranted sound; except,' added he, in a whisper, 'a slight spavin in both hind legs, ring gone, and a little touched in the wind.' Here the animal gave an approving cough. 'Will any gentleman say fifty pounds to begin?' But no gentleman did. A hackney coachman, however, said five, and the sale was opened; the beast trotting up and down nearly over the bidders at every moment, and plunging on so that it was impossible to know what was doing. "'Five, ten--fifteen--six pounds--thank you, sir,--guineas'--'seven pounds,' said I, bidding against myself, not perceiving that I had spoken last. 'Thank you, Mr. Moriarty,' said Dycer, turning towards an invisible purchaser supposed to be in the crowd. 'Thank you, sir, you'll not let a good one go that way.' Every one here turned to find out the very knowing gentleman; but he could no where be seen. "Dycer resumed, 'Seven ten for Mr. Moriarty. Going for seven ten--a cruel sacrifice--there's action for you--playful beast.' Here the devil had stumbled and nearly killed a basket-woman with two children. "'Eight,' said I, with a loud voice. "'Eight pounds, quite absurd,' said Dycer, almost rudely; 'a charger like that for eight pounds--going for eight pounds--going--nothing above eight pounds--no reserve, gentlemen, you are aware of that. They are all as it were, his majesty's stud--no reserve whatever--last time, eight pounds --gone.' "Amid a very hearty cheer from the mob--God knows why--but a Dublin mob always cheer--I returned, accompanied by a ragged fellow, leading my new purchase after me with a bay halter. 'What is the meaning of those letters,' said I, pointing to a very conspicuous G.R. with sundry other enigmatical signs, burned upon the animal's hind quarter. "'That's to show he was a po-lice,' said the fellow with a grin; 'and whin ye ride with ladies, ye must turn the decoy side.'