He procured his wine in the same style.  Chalier, the wine-merchant, was his creditor to a large amount, and had stopped supplies.  Sheridan was to give a grand dinner to the leaders of the Opposition, and had no port or sherry to offer them.  On the morning of the day fixed he sent for Chalier, and told him he wanted to settle his account.  The importer, much pleased, said he would go home and bring it at once.  ‘Stay,’ cried the debtor, ’will you dine with me to-day; Lord——­, Sir——­, and So-and-so are coming.’  Chalier was flattered and readily accepted.  Returning to his office, he told his clerk that he should dine with Mr. Sheridan, and therefore leave early.  At the proper hour he arrived in full dress, and was no sooner in the house., than his host despatched a message to the clerk at the office, saying that Mr. Chalier wished him to send up at once three dozen of Burgundy, two of claret, two of port, &c., &c.  Nothing seemed more natural, and the wine was forwarded, just in time for the dinner.  It was highly praised by the guests, who asked Sheridan who was his wine-merchant.  The host bowed towards Chalier, gave him a high recommendation, and impressed him with the belief that he was telling a polite falsehood in order to secure him other customers.  Little did he think that he was drinking his own wine, and that it was not, and probably never would be, paid for!

In like manner, when he wanted a particular Burgundy an innkeeper at Richmond, who declined to supply it till his bill was paid, he sent for the man, and had no sooner seen him safe in the house than he drove off to Richmond, saw his wife, told her he had just had a conversation with mine host, settled everything, and would, to save them trouble, take the wine with him in his carriage.  The condescension overpowered the good woman, who ordered it at once to be produced, and Sheridan drove home about the time that her husband was returning to Richmond, weary of waiting for his absent debtor.  But this kind of trickery could not always succeed without some knowledge of his creditor’s character.  In the case of Holloway, the lawyer, Sheridan took advantage of his well-known vanity of his judgment of horse-flesh.  Kelly gives the anecdote as authentic.  He was walking one day with Sheridan, close to the churchyard of St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, when, as ill-luck would have it, up comes Holloway on horseback, and in a furious rage, complains that he has called on Mr. Sheridan time and again in Hertford Street, and can never gain admittance.  He proceeds to violent threats, and slangs his debtor roundly.  Sheridan, cool as a whole bed of cucumbers, takes no notice of these attacks, but quietly exclaims:  ’What a beautiful creature you’re riding, Holloway!’ The lawyer’s weak point was touched.

’You were speaking to me the other day about a horse for Mrs. Sheridan; now this would be a treasure for a lady.’

‘Does he canter well?’ asks Sheridan, with a look of business.