his Head; that tho' he was an abject mean Fellow, and never capable of laying a Defign to injure any human Creature, yet was he by no Means a Fool, nor liable to any grofs Impofition, unless where his Heart betrayed him. He therefore instructed the Count to take only one of his Jewels at the first Interview, and to reject the reft as not fine enough, and order him to provide fome richer. He faid, this Management would prevent Heartfree from expecting ready Money for the Jewel he brought with him, which the Count was presently to dispose of, and by Means of that Money, and his great Abilities at Cards and Dice, to get together as large a Sum ́as poffible, which he was to pay down to Heartfree at the Delivery of the Set of Jewels, who would be thus void of all manner of Sufpicion, and would not fail to give him Credit for the refidue.

By this Contrivance it will appear in the fequel, that Wild did not only propofe to make the Impofition on Heartfree, who was (hitherto) void of all Sufpicion, but to rob the Count himself of this Sum; this double Method of cheating the very Tools

who

who are their Inftruments to cheat others, is the fuperlative Degree of GREATNESS, and is probably, as far as any Spirit crufted over with Clay can carry it, falling very little short of Damonism itself.

THIS Method was immediately put in Execution, and the Count, the first Day, took only a fingle Brilliant, worth about five hundred Pounds, and ordered a Necklace, Ear-rings, and Solitaire of the Value of four thousand Pounds, to be prepared by that Day Seven-night.

THIS Interval was employed by Wild in profecuting his Scheme of raising a Gang, in which he met with fuch Success, that within a few Days he had levied feven bold and refolute Fellows, fit for any Enterprize, how dangerous or GREAT, i. e. villainous foever.

WE have before remarked, that the truest Mark of GREATNESS is Insatiability. Wild had covenanted with the Count to receive three-fourths of the Booty, and had, at the fame time, covenanted with

himself,

himself to fecure the other fourth Part likewife, for which he had formed a very GREAT and noble Defign; but he now faw with Concern, that Sum, which was to be received in Hand by Heartfree, in Danger of being abfolutely loft. In order, therefore, to poffefs himself of that likewife, he contrived, that the Jewels fhould be brought in the Afternoon, and that Heartfree fhould be detained before the Count could fee him; that the Night should overtake him in his Return, where two of his Gang were ordered to attack and plunder him.

CHA P. III.

Containing Scenes of Softness, Love, and Honour, all in the GREAT

Style.

T

HE Count had difpofed of his Jewel for four hundred Pounds, which he had, by Dexterity, raised to a thousand Pounds; and that Sum he paid down to Heartfree, promifing him the rest within

a

a Month. His Houfe, his Equipage, his Appearance, but, above all, a certain Plaufibility in his Voice and Behaviour would have deceived any but one whofe GREAT and wife Heart had dictated to him fomething within, which would have fecured him from any Danger of Impofition. Heartfree therefore did not in the leaft fcruple giving him Credit, but as he had, in Reality, procured thofe Jewels of another, his own little Stock not being able to furnish any thing fo valuable, he begged the Count would be fo kind to give his Note for the Money, payable at the time he mentioned, which that Gentleman did not in the least fcruple; fo he paid him the thousand Pound in Specie, and gave his Note for four thoufand five hundred Pounds more to Heartfree, who burnt with Gratitude to Wild, for the noble Cuftomer he had recommended to him.

As foon as Heartfree was departed, Wild, who waited in another Room, came in, and received the Cafket from the Count, it having been agreed between them, that it should be depofited in his

Hands,

Hands, as he was the original Contriver of the Scheme, and was to have the largest Share. Wild having recived the Casket, offered to meet the Count late that Evening to come to a Divifion; but fuch was the latter's Confidence in the Honour of our Hero, that, he faid, if it was any Inconvenience to him, the next Morning would do altogether as well. This was more agreeable to Wild, and accordingly an Appointment being made for that purpose, he fet out in hafte to purfue Heartfree to the Place where the two Gentlemen were ordered to meet and attack him. Those Gentlemen, with noble Refolution, executed their Purpose; they attacked and spoiled the Enemy of the whole Sum he had received from the Count.

As foon as the Engagement was over and Heartfree left fprawling on the Ground, our Hero, who wifely declined trusting the Booty in his Friends Hands, tho' he had good Experience of their Honour, made off after the Conquerors; at length they being all at a Place of Safety, Wild, according to a previous Agreement, received nine VOL. III.

I

tenths