"'You are acquainted with the history of the horse, I suppose?'
"'The natural history? Buffon's? Certainly. The horse is, after the lion, the noblest of all the beasts.'
"'No, no; the philosophical history. The different stages and vicissitudes in the existence of those noble quadrupeds.'
"'Oh yes! first the saddle, then a carriage or gig, thence to a stage-coach or omnibus, hackney-coach or cab, and finally—to the knacker's.'
"'And from the knacker's?'
"'To the Elysian fields, I suppose.'
"'No. Not here, at least. From the knacker's they go to the corricoli.'
"'How so?'
"'I will tell you. At the Ponte della Maddalena, where horses are taken to be killed, there are always persons waiting, who, when a horse is brought, buy the hide and hoofs for thirty carlini, which is the price regulated by law. Instead of killing the horse and skinning him, these persons take him with the skin on, and make the most of the time he yet has to live. They are sure of getting the skin sooner or later. And these are what I mean by dead horses.'
"'But what can they possibly do with the unfortunate brutes?'