Chapter 23

           "YourhorsesoftheSun,"hesaid,"Andfirst-ratewhipApollo!Whate’ertheybe,I’lleatmyhead,ButIwillbeatthemhollow."

           FredVincy,wehaveseen.hadadebtonhismind,andthoughnosuchimmaterialburthencoulddepressthatbuoyant-heartedyounggentlemanformanyhourstogether,therewerecircumstancesconnectedwiththisdebtwhichmadethethoughtofitunusuallyimportunate.ThecreditorwasMr.Bambridgeahorse-dealeroftheneighborhood,whosecompanywasmuchsoughtinMiddlemarchbyyoungmenunderstoodtobe"addictedtopleasure."DuringthevacationsFredhadnaturallyrequiredmoreamusementsthanhehadreadymoneyfor,andMr.Bambridgehadbeenaccommodatingenoughnotonlytotrusthimforthehireofhorsesandtheaccidentalexpenseofruiningafinehunter,butalsotomakeasmalladvancebywhichhemightbeabletomeetsomelossesatbilliards.Thetotaldebtwasahundredandsixtypounds.Bambridgewasinnoalarmabouthismoney,beingsurethatyoungVincyhadbackers;buthehadrequiredsomethingtoshowforit,andFredhadatfirstgivenabillwithhisownsignature.ThreemonthslaterhehadrenewedthisbillwiththesignatureofCalebGarth.OnbothoccasionsFredhadfeltconfidentthatheshouldmeetthebillhimself,havingamplefundsatdisposalinhisownhopefulness.