In three days' time the fine and healthy animal was a carcass.
"Ah!" said the farmer, when he saw the horse lying dead before him, "this fellow is his mother's son.

From the time he looked into the horse's eyes the poor beast sank so rapidly that he didn't pass the third day alive.

And there are fifty guineas out of my pocket.

The curse of God on him wherever he goes!" Woodward provided himself, however, with another horse, and in due time set out for the Spa at Ballyspellan.
The dinner was now fixed for a certain day, and Squire Manifold felt himself in high spirits as often as he could recollect the circumstance--which, indeed, was but rarely, the worthy epicure's memory having nearly abandoned him.

Topertoe, of the gout, and he were old acquaintances and companions, and had spent many a merry night together--both, as the proverb has it, being tarred with the same stick.
Topertoe was as great a glutton as the other, but without his desperate voracity in food, whilst in drink he equalled if he did not surpass him.
Manifold would have forgotten every thing about the dinner had he not from time to time been reminded of it by his companion.
"Manifold, we will have a great day on Thursday." "Great!" exclaimed Manifold, who in addition to his other stupidities, was as deaf as a post; "great--eh?
What size will it be ?" "What size will it be?
Why, confound it, man, don't you know what I'm saying ?" "No, I don't--yes, I do--you are talking about something great.