could not be concealed from one of the Count's Difcernment; for though this latter was fo expert at his Cards, that he was proverbially faid, to play the whole Game, he was no Match for Master Wild, who, inexperienced as he was, notwithftanding all the Art, the Dexterity, and often the Fortune of his Adversary, never failed to fend him away from the Table with lefs in his Pocket than he brought to it; for indeed Langfanger himself could not have extracted a Purfe with more In

genuity than our young Hero.

His Hands made frequent Vifits to the Count's Pocket, before the latter had entertained any Sufpicion of him, imputing the feveral Loffes he fuftained rather tothe innocent and sprightly Frolick of Mifs Doby, with which, as fhe indulged him with little innocent Freedoms about her Perfon in Return, he thought himself obliged to be contented; but one Night, when Wild imagined the Count afleep, he made fo unguarded an Attack upon him, that the other caught him in the Fact: However, he did not think proper to acquaint him with the

Difco

Discovery he had made; but, preventing him from any Booty at that Time, he only took Care for the future to button his Pockets, and pack the Cards with double Industry.

So far was this Detection from caufing any Quarrel between these two Prigs, that these and many other fuch Instances of his Ingenuity, operated fo violently on the Count, that, notwithstanding the Disparity which Age, Title, and above all Dress, had fet between them, he refolved to enter into an Acquaintance, which foon produced a perfect Intimacy, and that a Friendship which had a longer Duration than is common to that Paffion between Perfons, who only propose to themselves the common Advantage of eating, drinking, whoring, or borrowing Money; which Ends as they foon fail, fo doth the Friendship founded upon them.

CHAP.

CHAP. V.

A Dialogue between young Master Wild and Count La Rufe, which, having extended to the Rejoinder, had a very quiet, easy, and natural Conclufion.

NE Evening after the Mifs Snaps

were retired to Reft, the Count thus addreffed himself to young Wild: "You cannot, I apprehend, Mr. Wild, be "fuch a Stranger to your own great Ca

pacity, as to be furprized when I tell «Ε you, I have often viewed, with a Mix"ture of Astonishment and Concern, your "fhining Qualities confined to a Sphere, "where they can never reach the Eyes of "those who would introduce them proper

cr

ly into the World, and raife you to an "Eminence, where you may blaze out "to the Admiration of all Men. I affure "you I am pleafed with my Captivity, "when I reflect, I am likely to owe to it an Acquaintance, and I hope Friendship,

" with

"with the greatest Genius of my Age; "and, what is ftill more, when I indulge

my Vanity with a Prospect of drawing

"from Obfcurity (pardon the Expreffion) "fuch Talents as were, I believe, never "before like to have been buried in it; for "I make no Queftion, but, at my Dif << charge from Confinement, which will "now foon happen, I fhall be able to in"troduce you into Company, where you may reap the Advantage of your fuperior

"Parts.

"I will bring you acquainted, Sir, with thofe, who, as they are capable of fetting a true Value on fuch Qualifications, "fo they will have it both in their Power " and Inclination to prefer you for them. "Such an Introduction is the only Advan"tage you want, without which your Me"rit might be your Misfortune; for those "Abilities which would entitle you to Ho"nour and Profit in a fuperior Station, <c may render you only obnoxious to Danger and Difgrace in a lower.

MR.

MR. Wild answered: "Sir, I am not infenfible of my Obligations to you, as "well for the overvalue you have fet on

my fmall Abilities, as the Kindness you "exprefs in offering to introduce me a

mong my Superiours. I must own, my "Father hath often perfuaded me to push myself into the Company of my betters; "but to fay the Truth, I have an auk"ward Pride in my Nature, which is bet"ter pleafed with being at the Head of "the lowest Class, than at the bottom of "the higheft. Permit me to fay, tho' the "Idea may be fomewhat coarse, I had ra"ther stand on the Summit of a Dunghil, "than at the bottom of a Hill in Paradife; "I have always thought it fignifies little in"to what Rank of Life I am thrown, pro«vided I make a great Figure therein; " and fhould be as well fatisfied with ex

erting my Talents well at the Head of a "fmall Party or Gang, as in the Com

mand of a mighty Army; for I am far « from agreeing with you, that great "Parts are often buried in Oblivion; on the contrary, I am convinced it is impoffible they fhould be fo. I have often perfuaded

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