''Tis use alone that sanctifies expense,
And splendour borrows all her rays from sense.'
"'No doubt of it, Sandy,' said Mr Darsy. 'Beautiful sentiment, and admirably expressed.'
"The project of cultivating the land having been thus settled by the assistance of Pope, Sandy was instructed to look out for the necessary means, proper implements, and, first and most important of all, a pair of good stout draught horses. This last want of Mr Darsy's was one that soon became known throughout the country; and, as Mr Darsy was always reckoned a liberal and punctual man to deal with, he had soon abundance of offers; and they were not a whit the less numerous, perhaps, that he was thought to be no great judge of the article he wanted.
"Amongst those whose ears Mr Darsy's want of a pair of horses reached, was a certain dealer in horse-flesh, of the name of William Craig, as great a rascal as Scotland perhaps ever had the honour of producing; but he was withal a pleasant knave, and always cheated with the greatest good-humour imaginable. The smile was never off his countenance, excepting when he saw it for his interest to look grave, and then he could put on a face of sympathy and sentiment that it would break your heart to look at. He was, in short, a most plausible and most accomplished scoundrel—clever, and well-informed.
"On hearing that Mr Darsy wanted a couple of horses, and that he had already rejected several that had been offered him—
"'I'll try my hand on him,' said Willie; 'and if I dinna fix him, blame me.'
"'Do you mean by gi'ein him a fair bargain, Willie?' inquired the friend to whom he had made the boast above quoted.
"'Never did that in my life to onybody, and I'm no gaun to begin now,' replied Willie.
"'Then, how do you propose to fix him, Willie, as ye ca't?'
"'Leave that to me,' said the honest horse-jockey. 'I'll do him owre as clean's a leek. I'll trot him out as cleverly as I ever did ony beast wi' four legs. I hae the secret o' him.'