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Page 29
ROGER MORCRAFT.
LETTER II.
DEAR SIR,--The money, as you truly say, hath been three years due,
but upon my soul I am at present incapable of paying a farthing;
but as I doubt not, very shortly not only to content that small
bill, but likewise to lay out very considerable further sums at
your house, hope you will meet with no inconvenience by this short
delay in, dear sir, your most sincere humble servant,
CHA. COURTLY.
LETTER III.
MR. HEARTFREE,--I beg you would not acquaint my husband of the
trifling debt between us; for, as I know you to be a very good-
natured man, I will trust you with a secret; he gave me the money
long since to discharge it, which I had the ill luck to lose at
play. You may be assured I will satisfy you the first opportunity,
and am, sir, your very humble servant,
CATH. RUBBERS.
Please to present my compliments to Mrs. Heartfree.
LETTER IV.
MR. THOMAS HEARTFREE, SIR,--Yours received: but as to sum
mentioned therein, doth not suit at present. Your humble servant,
PETER POUNCE.
LETTER V.
SIR,--I am sincerely sorry it is not at present possible for me to
comply with your request, especially after so many obligations
received on my side, of which I shall always entertain the most
greateful memory. I am very greatly concerned at your misfortunes,
and would have waited upon you in person, but am not at present
very well, and besides, am obliged to go this evening to Vauxhall.
I am, sir, your most obliged humble servant,
CHA. EASY.
P.S.--I hope good Mrs. Heartfree and the dear little ones are
well.
There were more letters to much the same purpose; but we proposed
giving our readers a taste only. Of all these, the last was
infinitely the most grating to poor Heartfree, as it came from one
to whom, when in distress, he had himself lent a considerable sum,
and of whose present flourishing circumstances he was well
assured.
CHAPTER EIGHT
IN WHICH OUR HERO CARRIES GREATNESS TO AN IMMODERATE HEIGHT.
Let us remove, therefore, as fast as we can, this detestable
picture of ingratitude, and present the much more agreeable
portrait of that assurance to which the French very properly annex
the epithet of good. Heartfree had scarce done reading his letters
when our hero appeared before his eyes; not with that aspect with
which a pitiful parson meets his patron after having opposed him
at an election, or which a doctor wears when sneaking away from a
door when he is informed of his patient's death; not with that
downcast countenance which betrays the man who, after a strong
conflict between virtue and vice, hath surrendered his mind to the
latter, and is discovered in his first treachery; but with that
noble, bold, great confidence with which a prime minister assures
his dependent that the place he promised him was disposed of
before. And such concern and uneasiness as he expresses in his
looks on those occasions did Wild testify on the first meeting of
his friend. And as the said prime minister chides you for neglect
of your interest in not having asked in time, so did our hero
attack Heartfree for his giving credit to the count; and, without
suffering him to make any answer, proceeded in a torrent of words
to overwhelm him with abuse, which, however friendly its intention
might be, was scarce to be outdone by an enemy. By these means
Heartfree, who might perhaps otherwise have vented some little
concern for that recommendation which Wild had given him to the
count, was totally prevented from any such endeavour; and, like an
invading prince, when attacked in his own dominions, forced to
recal his whole strength to defend himself at home. This indeed he
did so well, by insisting on the figure and outward appearance of
the count and his equipage, that Wild at length grew a little more
gentle, and with a sigh said, "I confess I have the least reason
of all mankind to censure another for an imprudence of this
nature, as I am myself the most easy to be imposed upon, and
indeed have been so by this count, who, if he be insolvent, hath
cheated me of five hundred pounds. But, for my own part," said he,
"I will not yet despair, nor would I have you. Many men have found
it convenient to retire or abscond for a while, and afterwards
have paid their debts, or at least handsomely compounded them.
This I am certain of, should a composition take place, which is
the worst I think that can be apprehended, I shall be the only
loser; for I shall think myself obliged in honour to repair your
loss, even though you must confess it was principally owing to
your own folly. Z--ds! had I imagined it necessary, I would have
cautioned you, but I thought the part of the town where he lived
sufficient caution not to trust him. And such a sum!---The devil
must have been in you certainly!"
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