Buying his horses did not seem so good a speculation as blowing his credit at Jawleyford Court, for, independently of disliking to part with his cash, his lordship remembered that there were other horses to get, and he should only be giving Sponge the means of purchasing them.

The more, however, he thought of the Jawleyford project, the more satisfied he was that it would do; and Jack and he were in a sort of rehearsal, wherein his lordship personated Jawleyford, and was showing Jack (who was only a clumsy diplomatist) how to draw up to the subject of Sponge's pecuniary deficiencies, when the dirty old butler came with Jawleyford's note.
'What's here ?' exclaimed his lordship, fearing from its smartness, that it was from a lady.

'What's here ?' repeated he, as he inspected the direction.
'Oh, it's for _you_!' exclaimed he, chucking it over to Jack, considerably relieved by the discovery.
'_Me!_' replied Jack.

'Who can be writing to me ?' said he, squinting his eyes inside out at the seal.

He opened it: 'Jawleyford Court,' read he.
'Who the deuce can be writing to me from Jawleyford Court when I'm going there ?' 'A put-off, for a guinea!' exclaimed his lordship.
'Hope so,' muttered Jack.
'Hope _not_,' replied his lordship.
'It is!' exclaimed Jack, reading, 'Dear Mr.Spraggon,' and so on.
'The humbug!' muttered Lord Scamperdale, adding, 'I'll be bound he's got no more influenza than I have.' 'Well,' observed Jack, sweeping a red cotton handkerchief, with which he had been protecting his leathers, off into his pocket, 'there's an end of that.' 'Don't go so quick,' replied his lordship, ladling in the porridge.
'Quick!' retorted Jack; 'why, what can you do ?' '_Do!_ why, _go_ to be sure,' replied his lordship.
'How can I go,' asked Jack, 'when the sinner's written to put me off ?' 'Nicely,' replied his lordship, 'nicely.