|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 25
His soliloquy and his punch concluded together; for he had at
every pause comforted himself with a sip. And now it came first
into his head that it would be more difficult to pay for it than
it was to swallow it; when, to his great pleasure, he beheld at
another corner of the room one of the gentlemen whom he had
employed in the attack on Heartfree, and who, he doubted not,
would readily lend him a guinea or two; but he had the
mortification, on applying to him, to hear that the gaming-table
had stript him of all the booty which his own generosity had left
in his possession. He was therefore obliged to pursue his usual
method on such occasions: so, cocking his hat fiercely, he marched
out of the room without making any excuse, or any one daring to
make the least demand.
CHAPTER FIVE
CONTAINING MANY SURPRISING ADVENTURES, WHICH OUR HERO, WITH GREAT
GREATNESS, ACHIEVED.
We will now leave our hero to take a short repose, and return to
Mr. Snaps' where, at Wild's departure, the fair Theodosia had
again betaken herself to her stocking, and Miss Letty had retired
up stairs to Mr. Bagshot; but that gentleman had broken his
parole, and, having conveyed himself below stairs behind a door,
he took the opportunity of Wild's sally to make his escape. We
shall only observe that Miss Letty's surprize was the greater, as
she had, notwithstanding her promise to the contrary, taken the
precaution to turn the key; but, in her hurry, she did it
ineffectually. How wretched must have been the situation of this
young creature, who had not only lost a lover on whom her tender
heart perfectly doated, but was exposed to the rage of an injured
father, tenderly jealous of his honour, which was deeply engaged
to the sheriff of London and Middlesex for the safe custody of the
said Bagshot, and for which two very good responsible friends had
given not only their words but their bonds.
But let us remove our eyes from this melancholy object and survey
our hero, who, after a successless search for Miss Straddle, with
wonderful greatness of mind and steadiness of countenance went
early in the morning to visit his friend Heartfree, at a time when
the common herd of friends would have forsaken and avoided him. He
entered the room with a chearful air, which he presently changed
into surprize on seeing his friend in a night-gown, with his
wounded head bound about with linen, and looking extremely pale
from a great effusion of blood. When Wild was informed by
Heartfree what had happened he first expressed great sorrow, and
afterwards suffered as violent agonies of rage against the robbers
to burst from him. Heartfree, in compassion to the deep impression
his misfortunes seemed to make on his friend, endeavoured to
lessen it as much as possible, at the same time exaggerating the
obligation he owed to Wild, in which his wife likewise seconded
him, and they breakfasted with more comfort than was reasonably to
be expected after such an accident; Heartfree expressing great
satisfaction that he had put the count's note in another pocket-
book; adding, that such a loss would have been fatal to him; "for,
to confess the truth to you, my dear friend," said he, "I have had
some losses lately which have greatly perplexed my affairs; and
though I have many debts due to me from people of great fashion, I
assure you I know not where to be certain of getting a shilling."
Wild greatly felicitated him on the lucky accident of preserving
his note, and then proceeded, with much acrimony, to inveigh
against the barbarity of people of fashion, who kept tradesmen out
of their money.
While they amused themselves with discourses of this kind, Wild
meditating within himself whether he should borrow or steal from
his friend, or indeed whether he could not effect both, the
apprentice brought a bank-note of L500 in to Heartfree, which he
said a gentlewoman in the shop, who had been looking at some
jewels, desired him to exchange. Heartfree, looking at the number,
immediately recollected it to be one of those he had been robbed
of. With this discovery he acquainted Wild, who, with the notable
presence of mind and unchanged complexion so essential to a great
character, advised him to proceed cautiously; and offered (as Mr.
Heartfree himself was, he said, too much flustered to examine the
woman with sufficient art) to take her into a room in his house
alone. He would, he said, personate the master of the shop, would
pretend to shew her some jewels, and would undertake to get
sufficient information out of her to secure the rogues, and most
probably all their booty. This proposal was readily and thankfully
accepted by Heartfree. Wild went immediately up stairs into the
room appointed, whither the apprentice, according to appointment,
conducted the lady.
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|