CHAP. V.

Containing many Surprizing Adventures, which our Hero, with GREAT GREATNESS, atchieved.

E will now leave our Hero to take

WE

a fhort Repose, and return to Mr. Snap's, where, at Wild's Departure, the fair Theodofia had again betaken herself to her Stocking, and Mifs 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 fhall only obferve, that Mifs Letty's Surprize was the greater, as he had, notwithstanding her Promife to the contrary, taken the Precaution to turn the Key; but, in her Hurry, fhe did it ineffectually. How wretched must have been the Situation of this young Creature, who had not only lost a Lover, on whom the perfectly doated, but was expofed to the Rage of an injured FaVOL. III. K

ther,

ther, tenderly jealous of his Honour, which was deeply engaged to the Sheriff of London and Middlefex, for the fafe Custody of the faid Bagshot, and for which two very good refponfible Friends had given not only their Words but their Bonds.

BUT let us remove our Eyes from this melancholy Object, and furvey our Hero, who, after a fuccefslefs Search for Mifs Straddle, with wonderful GREATNESS of Mind, and Steddinefs of Countenance, went early in the Morning to vifit his Friend Heartfree, at a Time when the common Herd of Friends would have forfaken and avoided him. He entered the Room with a chearful Air, which he prefently changed into Surprize on feeing his Friend in a Night-Gown, with his wounded Head bound about with Linen, and looking extremely pale from a great Profufion of Blood. When Wild was informed by Heartfree what had happened, he firft expreffed great Sorrow, and afterwards fuffered as violent Agonies of Rage against the Robbers to burst from him. This latter, in Compaffion to the deep Impreffions his Misfor

Misfortune seemed to make on his Friend, endeavoured to leffen it as much as poffible, at the fame Time exaggerating the Obligation he owed to Wild, in which his Wife likewife feconded him; and they breakfasted with more Comfort than was reasonably to be expected after fuch an Accident. Heartfree expreffing great Satisfaction that he put the four thoufand Pound Note in another Pocket-Book, adding, that such a Lofs would have been fatal to him; "for, "to confefs the Truth to you, my dear "Friend, faid he, I have had fome Loffes

had

lately, which have greatly perplexed my "Affairs, and though I have many Debts " due to me from People of great Fashion, "I affure you I know not where to be cer"tain of getting a Shilling." Wild greatly felicitated him on the lucky Accident of preferving 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 Difcourfes of this kind, Wild, meditating within himself whether he should borrow

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borrow or steal from his Friend, or indeed whether he could not effect both, the Apprentice brought a Bank-Note in to Heartfree, which, he faid, a Gentlewoman in the Shop, who had been looking at some Jewels, defired him to exchange. Heart free looking at the Back of it, immediately perceived the Count's Endorsement, and prefently recollected it to be one of those he had been robbed of. With this Discovery he acquainted Wild, who, with the notable Prefence of Mind, and unchanged Complexion, fo effential 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 fufficient Art) to take her into a Room in his House alone. He would, he said, perfonate the Mafter of the Shop, would pretend to fhew her fome Jewels, and would undertake to get fufficient Information out of her to fecure the Rogues, and moft probably all their Booty. This Propofal was readily and thankfully accepted by Heartfree. Wild went immediately up Stairs into the Room appointed, whither the Apprentice,

according

according to Appointment, conducted the Lady.

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THE Apprentice was ordered down › Stairs the Moment the Lady entered the. Room; and Wild, having fhut the Door,, approached her with great Ferocity in his Looks, and began to expatiate on the complicated Baseness of the Crime the had been guilty of; but though he uttered ma-. ny good Leffons of Morality, as we doubt, whether from a particular Reason they may work any very good Effect on our Reader, we fhall omit his Speech, and only mention his Conclufion, which was by afking her, what Mercy he could now expect from him? The young Lady, who had had a good Education, and had been more than once present at the Old Baily, very confidently denied the whole Charge, and faid, she had receiv'd the Note from a Friend. Wild then, raifing his Voice, told her, she should be immediately committed, and she might depend on being convicted; «but, added he, changing his Tone, " as I have

a violent Affection for thee, my dear "Straddle, if you will follow my Advice, K 3

"I