. suspicion of some people, who repined at his His company was no longer solicited with prosperity. that eagerness which they had formerly exBut in nothing was his conduct more in-pressed in his behalf; even his entertainexcusable than in giving way to the danger-ments were neglected: when he appeared at ous temerity of Ratchcali, which he had been any private or public assembly, the ladies, always at pains to restrain, and permitting instead of glowing with pleasure, as formerly, him to practise the same fraud upon an now tittered or regarded him with looks of English nobleman, which had been executed disdain: and a certain pert, little, forward upon himself at Frankfort. In other words, coquette, with a view to put him out of counthe Tyrolese, by the canal of Ferdinand's tenance, by raising the laugh at his expense, finger and recommendation, sold a pebble for asked him one night, at a drum, when he a real brilliant, and in a few days the cheat had heard from his relations in Poland? She was discovered, to the infinite confusion of succeeded in her design upon the mirth of our adventurer, who nevertheless assumed the audience, but was disappointed in the the guise of innocence with so much art, and other part of her aim! for our hero replied, expressed such indignation against the villain without the least mark of discomposure,who had imposed upon his judgment and un- They are all in good health at your service, suspecting generosity, that his lordship ac- madam; I wish I knew in what part of the quitted him of any share in the deceit, and world your relations reside, that I might recontented himself with the restitution, which turn the compliment." By this answer, he insisted upon making out of his own pocket, which was the more severe, as the young until he should be able to apprehend the lady was of very doubtful extraction, he rerogue, who had thought proper to abscond torted the laugh upon the aggressor, though for his own safety. In spite of all this ex- he likewise failed in his attempt upon her culpation, his character did not fail to retain temper: for she was perhaps the only person a sort of stigma, which indeed the plainest present who equalled himself in stability of proofs of innocence are hardly able to efface; countenance. and his connexion with such a palpable knave as the Tyrolese appeared to be, had an effect to his prejudice in the minds of all those who were privy to the occurrence. When a man's reputation is once brought in question, every trifle is, by the malevolence of mankind, magnified into a strong presumption against the culprit: a few whispers communicated by the envious mouth of slander, which he can have no opportunity to answer and refute, shall, in the opinion of the world, convict him of the most horrid crimes; and for one hypocrite who is decked with the honours of virtue, there are twenty good men who suffer the ignominy of vice; so well disposed are individuals to trample upon the fame of their fellow-creatures. If the most unblemished merit is not protected from this injustice, it will not be wondered at that no quarter was given to the character of an adventurer like Fathom, who, among other unlucky occurrences, had the misfortune to be recognized about this time by his two Parisian friends, Sir Stentor Stiles and Sir Giles Squirrel. These worthy knights-errant had returned to their own country, after having made a very prosperous campaign in France, at the end of which, however, they very narrowly escaped the galleys; and seeing the Polish count seated at the head of taste and politeness, they immediately circulated the story of his defeat at Paris, with many ludicrous circumstances of their own invention, and did not scruple to affirm that he was a rank impostor. When the laugh is raised upon a great man, he never fails to dwindle into contempt. Ferdinand began to perceive a change in the countenance of his friends. Notwithstanding this appearance of unconcern, he was deeply touched with these marks of alienation in the behaviour of his friends, and, foreseeing in his own disgrace the total shipwreck of his fortune, he entered into a melancholy deliberation with himself about the means of retrieving his importance in the beau monde, or of turning his address into some other channel, where he could stand upon a less slippery foundation. In this exercise of his thoughts, no scheme occurred more feasible than that of securing the booty he had made, and retiring with his associate, who was also blown, into some other country, where their names and characters being unknown, they might pursue their old plan of commerce without molestation. He imparted this suggestion to the Tyrolese, who approved the proposal of decamping, though he combated with all his might our hero's inclination to withdraw himself before the trial, by repeating the assurances of the solicitor, who told him he might depend upon being reimbursed by the sentence of the court for great part of the sums he had expended in the course of the prosecution. Fathom suffered himself to be persuaded by these arguments, supported with the desire of making an honourable retreat, and waiting patiently for the day of trouble, discharged his sureties, by a personal appearance in court. Yet this was not the only score he discharged that morning; the solicitor presented his own bill before they set out for Westminster-hall, and gave the count to understand that it was the custom, from time immemorial, for the client to clear with his attorney before trial. Ferdinand had nothing to object against this established rule, though he looked upon it as a bad omen, in spite of all the solicitor's confidence and protestations: and he was not a little confounded, when looking into the contents, he found himself charged with 350 attendances. He knew it was not his interest to disoblige his lawyer at such a juncture: nevertheless, he could not help expostulating with him on this article, which seemed to be so falsely stated with regard to the number; when his questions drew on an explanation, by which he found he had incurred the penalty of three shillings and four pence for every time he chanced to meet the conscientious attorney, either in the park, the coffeehouse, or the street, provided they had exchanged the common salutation: and he had great reason to believe the solicitor had often thrown himself in his way, with a view to swell this item of his account. With this extortion our adventurer was fain to comply, because he lay at the mercy of the caitiff; accordingly, he with a good grace paid the demand, which, including his former disbursements, amounted to three hundred and sixty-five pounds eleven shillings and three pence three farthings, and then presenting himself before the judge, quietly submitted to the laws of the realm. His counsel behaved like men of consummate abilities in their profession; they exerted themselves with equal industry, eloquence, and erudition, in their endeavours to perplex the truth, browbeat the evidence, puzzle the judge, and mislead the jury: but the defendant found himself wofully disappointed in the deposition of Trapwell's journeyman, whom the solicitor pretended to have converted to his interest: this witness, as the attorney afterwards declared, played booty, and the facts came out so clear, that Ferdinand Count Fathom was convicted of criminal conversation with the plaintiff's wife, and cast in fifteen hundred pounds, under the denomination of damages. He was not so much surprised as afflicted at this decision, because he saw it gradually approaching from the examination of the first evidence: his thoughts were now employed in casting about for some method of deliverance from the snare in which he found himself entangled. To escape, he foresaw, would be impracticable, as Trapwell would undoubtedly be prepared for arresting him before he could quit Westminster-hall; he was too well acquainted with Ratchcali's principles, to expect any assistance from that quarter in money matters; and he was utterly averse to the payment of the sum awarded against him, which would have exhausted his whole fortune. He therefore resolved to try the friendship of some persons of fashion, with whom he had maintained an intimacy of correspondence: should they fail him in the day of his necessity, he proposed to have recourse to his former sureties, one of whom he meant to bilk, while the other might accompany him in his retreat: or, should both these expedients miscarry, he determined, rather than part with his effects, to undergo the most disagreeable confinement, in hope of obtaining the jailor's connivance at his escape. These resolutions being taken, he met his fate with great fortitude and equanimity, and calmly suffered himself to be conveyed to the house of a sheriff's officer, who, as he made his exit from the hall, according to his own expectation, executed a writ against him, at the suit of Trapwell, for a debt of two thousand pounds. To this place he was followed by his solicitor, who was allured by the prospect of another job, and who with great demonstrations of satisfaction congratulated him upon the happy issue of the trial; arrogating to himself the merit of having saved him eight thousand pounds in the arti cle of damages, by the previous steps he had taken, and the noble defence that he and his friends the counsel had made for their client: he even hinted an expectation of receiving a gratuity for his extraordinary care and discretion. Fathom, galled as he was with his misfortune, and enraged at the effrontery of this pettifogger, maintained a serenity of countenance, and sent the attorney with a message to the plaintiff, importing, that, as he was a foreigner, and could not be supposed to have so much cash about him, as to spare fifteen hundred pounds from the funds of his ordinary expense, he would grant him a bond payable in two months, during which period he should be able to procure a proper remittance from his own estate. While the solicitor was employed in this negotiation, he dispatched his valet-de-chambre to one nobleman, and Maurice to another, with billets, signifying the nature of the verdict which his adversary had obtained, and desiring that each would lend him a thousand pounds upon his parole, until he could negotiate bills upon the continent. His three messengers returned almost at the same instant of time, and these were the answers they brought back. Trapwell absolutely rejected his personal security; and threatened him with all the horrors of a jail, unless he would immediately discharge the debt, or procure sufficient bondsmen; and one of his quality-friends favoured him with this reply to his request: "MY DEAR COUNT!-I am mortally chagrined at the triumph you have furnished to that rascally citizen. By the lard! the judge must have been in the terrors of cuckoldom, to influence the decision; and the jury, a mere herd of horned beasts, to bring in such a barbarous verdict. Egad! at this rate, no gentleman will be able to lie with another man's wife, but at the risk of a cursed prose cution. But to waive this disagreeable circumstance, which you must strive to forget; I declare my mortification is still the greater, because I cannot at present supply you with the trifle your present exigency requires; for, to tell you a secret, my own finances are in damnable confusion. But a man of Count Fathom's figure and address can never be puzzled for the want of such a paltry sum. Adieu, my dear count! we shall, I suppose, have the pleasure of seeing you to-morrow at White's; meanwhile, I have the honour to be, with the most perfect attachment, yours, "GRIZZLEGRIN." The other noble peer, to whom he addressed himself on this occasion, cherished the same sentiments of virtue, friendship, and generosity; but his expression was so different, that we shall, for the edification of the reader, transcribe his letter in his own words:"SIR, I was never more astonished than at the receipt of your very extraordinary billet, wherein you solicit the loan of a thousand pounds, which you desire may be sent with the bearer on the faith of your parole. Sir, I have no money to send you or lend you; and cannot help repeating my expressions of surprise at your confidence in making such a strange and unwarranted demand. "Tis true, I may have made professions of friendship, while I looked upon you as a person of honour and good morals; but now that you are convicted of such a flagrant violation of the laws of that kingdom where you have been treated with such hospitality and respect, I think myself fully absolved from any such conditional promise, which indeed is never interpreted into any other than a bare compliment. I am sorry you have involved your character and fortune in such a disagreeable affair, and am, Sir, yours, &c. "TROMPINGTON." Ferdinand was not such a novice in the world as to be disappointed at these repulses; especially as he had laid very little stress upon the application, which was made by way of an experiment upon the gratitude or caprice of those two noblemen, whom he had actually more than once obliged with the same sort of assistance which he now solicited, though not to such a considerable amount. nion, the finances of no foreign count were able to defray: he therefore lent a deaf ear to the most pressing remonstrances of the ambassador, who had recourse to several other merchants with the same bad success; so that the prisoner, despairing of bail, endeavoured to persuade Ratchcali, that it would be his interest to contribute a thousand pounds towards his discharge, that he might be enabled to quit England with a good grace, and execute his part of the plan they had projected. So powerful was his eloquence on the occasion, and such strength of argument did he use, that even the Tyrolese seemed convinced, though reluctantly, and agreed to advance the necessary sum upon the bond and judgment of our adventurer, who, being disabled from transacting his own affairs in person, was obliged to entrust Ratchcali with his keys, papers, and power of attorney, under the check and inspection of his faithful Maurice and the solicitor, whose fidelity he bespoke with the premise of an ample recompence. CHAPTER XXXVIII. The biter is bit. YET, he had no sooner committed his effects to the care of this triumvirate, than his fancy was visited with direful warnings which produced cold sweats and palpitations, and threw him into such agonies of apprehension as he had never known before. He remembered the former desertion of the Tyrolese, the recent villainy of the solicitor, and recollected the remarks he had made upon the disposition and character of his valet, which evinced him a fit companion for the other two. Alarmed at these reflections, he entreated the bailiff to indulge him with a visit to his own lodgings, and even offered one hundred guineas as a gratification for his compliance. But the officer, who had formerly lost a considerable sum by the escape of a prisoner, would not run any risk in an affair of such consequence, and our hero was obliged to submit to the tortures of his own presaging Having nothing further to expect from the fears. After he had waited five hours in the fashionable world, he sent the Tyrolese to most racking impatience, he saw the attorney the person who had been bail for his appear-enter with all the marks of hurry, fatigue, ance, with full instructions to explain his and consternation, and heard him exclaim,present occasion in the most favourable light," Good God, have you seen the gentleman?" and desire he would reinforce the credit of Fathom found his fears realized in this inthe count with his security; but that gentle- terrogation, to which he answered in a tone man, though he placed the most perfect con- of horror and dismay,-"what gentleman? fidence in the honour of our hero, and would I suppose I am robbed: speak, and keep me have willingly entered into bonds again for no longer in suspense.' "Robbed!" cried his personal appearance, was not quite so the attorney, "the Lord forbid! I hope you well satisfied of his circumstances, as to can depend upon the person you empowered become liable for the payment of two thou-to receive your jewels and cash? I must own sand pounds; an expense which, in his opi-his proceedings are a little extraordinary: for after he had rummaged your scrutoire, | collected his spirits, which had been suddenly from which, in presence of me and your dissipated by Fathom's unexpected assault, servant, he took one hundred and fifty gui- he began to display one art of his occupation, neas, a parcel of diamond rings and buckles, which he always reserved for extraordinary according to this here inventory, which I occasions: this was the talent of abuse, which wrote with my own hand, and East-India he poured forth with such fluency of opprobonds to the tune of five hundred more, we brious language, that our hero, smarting as adjourned to Garraway's, where he left me he was, and almost desperate with his loss, alone under pretence of going to a broker of deviated from that temperance of behaviour his acquaintance who lived in the neighbour- which he had hitherto preserved, and, snatchhood, while the valet, as I imagined, waited ing up the poker, with one stroke opened a for us in the alley. Well, sir, he staid so deep trench upon the attorney's skull, that long, that I began to be uneasy, and at length extended from the hind head almost to the resolved to send the servant in quest of him, upper part of the nose, upon each side of but when I went out for that purpose, deuce which it discharged a sanguine stream. Nota servant was to be found; though I in person withstanding the pain of this application, the inquired for him at every alehouse within solicitor was transported with joy at the sense half a mile of the place. I then despatched of the smart, and inwardly congratulated no less than five ticket-porters upon the scent himself upon the appearance of his own after them, and I myself, by a direction from blood, which he no sooner perceived, than the bar-keeper, went to Signior Ratchcali's he exclaimed,-" I'm a dead man," and fell lodgings, where, as they told me, he had not upon the floor at full length. been seen since nine o'clock in the morning. Upon this intimation, I came directly hither, to give you timely notice, that you may without delay take measures for your own security. The best thing you can do, is to take out writs for apprehending him, in the counties of Middlesex, Surrey, Kent and Essex, and I shall put them in the hands of trusty and diligent officers, who will soon ferret him out of his lurking place, provided he skulks within ten miles of the bills of mortality: to be sure the job will be expensive; and all these runners must be paid beforehand. But what then? the defendant is worth powder, and if we can once secure him, I'll warrant the prosecution will quit cost." Immediate recourse was had to a surgeon in the neighbourhood, who having examined the wound, declared there was a dangerous depression of the first table of the skull, and that, if he could save the patient's life without the application of the trepan, it would be one of the greatest cures that ever was performed. By this time, Fathom's first transport being overblown, he summoned up his whole resolution, and reflected upon his own ruin, with that fortitude which had never failed him in the emergencies of his fate: little disturbed at the prognostic of the surgeon, which he considered in the right point of view," Sir," said he, "I am not so unacquainted with the resistance of an attor ney's skull, as to believe the chastisement I have bestowed on him will at all endanger his life, which is in much greater jeopardy from the hands of the common executioner: for, notwithstanding this accident, I am determined to prosecute the rascal for robbery with the utmost severity of the law; and, that I may have a sufficient fund left for that prosecution, I shall not at present throw away one farthing in unnecessary expense, but insist upon being conveyed to prison without farther delay." Fathom was almost choked with concern and resentment at the news of this mischance, so that he could not utter one word until this narrative was finished. Nor was his suspicion confined to the Tyrolese and his own lacquey; he considered the solicitor as their accomplice and director, and was so much provoked at the latter part of his harangue, that his discretion seemed to vanish, and, collaring the attorney," Villain!" said he, "you yourself have been a principal actor in this robbery :" then turning to the This declaration was equally unwelcome bystanders," and I desire in the king's name to the bailiff, surgeon, and solicitor, who, that he may be secured, until I can make upon the supposition that the count was a oath before a magistrate in support of the person of fortune, and would rather part with charge. If you refuse your assistance in de-an immense sum than incur the ignominy of taining him, I will make immediate application to one of the secretaries of state, who is my particular friend, and he will see justice done to all parties." At mention of this formidable name, the bailiff and his whole family were in commotion, to obstruct the retreat of the lawyer, who stood aghast, and trembled under the grasp of our adventurer: but, soon as he found himself delivered from this embrace, by the interposition of the spectators, and a jail, or involve himself in another disgraceful law-suit, had resolved to fleece him to the utmost of their power. But now the attorney, finding him determined to set his fate at defiance, and to retort upon him a prosecution, which he had no design to undergo, began to repent heartily of the provocation he had given, and to think seriously on some method to overcome the obstinacy of the incensed foreigner. With this view, while the bailiff conducted him to bed in another apartment, he desired the catchpole to act | quiet sort of a body, and a great scholar, and the part of a mediator between hin and the it was a scandal to the place to see him going count, and furnished him with proper instruc- about in that naked condition. As for the tions for that purpose. Accordingly, the mad Frenchman with the beard, if you give landlord, on his return, told Fathom, that he him so much as a cheese paring you b―ch, was sure the solicitor was not a man for this I'll send you back to the hole, among your world; for that he had left him deprived of old companions; an impudent dog! I'll teach his senses, and praying to God with great him to draw his sword upon the governor of devotion for mercy to his murderer: he then an English county jail. What! I suppose he exhorted him, with many protestations of thought he had to do with a French hangfriendship, to compromise the unhappy affair tang-dang, rabbit him! he shall eat his white by exchanging releases with the attorney feather before I give him credit for a morsel before his delirium should be known, other- of bread." wise he would bring himself into a most dangerous premunire, whether the plaintiff should die of his wound, or live to prosecute him for the assault. "And with regard to your charge of robbery against him," said he, as it is no more than a bare suspicion, unsupported by the least shadow of evidence, the bill would be thrown out, and then he might sue you for damages. I therefore, out of pure friendship and good nature, advise you to compromise the affair, and, if you think proper, will endeavour to bring about a mutual release." Although our adventurer was very little disposed, at this juncture, to make observations foreign to his own affairs, he could not help taking notice of these extraordinary injunctions; especially those concerning the person who was entitled king, whom, however, he supposed to be some prisoner elected as the magistrate by the joint suffrage of his fellows. Having taken possession of his chamber, which he rented at five shillings a-week, and being ill at ease in his own thoughts, he forthwith secured his door, undressed and went to bed, in which, though it Our hero, whose passion was by this time was none of the most elegant or inviting pretty well cooled, saw reason for assenting couches, he enjoyed profound repose after to the proposal; upon which the deed was the accumulated fatigues and mortifications immediately executed, the mediator's bill was of the day. Next morning, after breakfast, discharged, and Ferdinand conveyed in a the keeper entered his apartment, and gave hackney coach to prison, after he had em- him to understand, that the gentlemen under powered his own landlord to discharge his his care, having heard of the count's arrival, servants, and convert his effects into ready had deputed one of their number to wait upon money. Thus, he saw himself, in the course him with the compliments of condolence of a few hours, deprived of his reputation, suitable to the occasion, and invite him to rank, liberty, and friends; and his fortune become a member of their society. Our hero reduced from two thousand pounds to some-could not politely dispense with this instance thing less than two hundred, fifty of which he had carried to jail in his pocket. CHAPTER XXXIX. of civility, and their ambassador being instantly introduced by the name of Captain Minikin, saluted him with great solemnity. This was a person equally remarkable for his extraordinary figure and address; his age seemed to border upon forty, his stature Our adventurer is made acquainted with a amounted to five feet, his visage was long, new scene of life. meagre, and weather-beaten, and his aspect, though not quite rueful, exhibited a certain JUST as he entered these mansions of misery, formality, which was the result of care and his ears were invaded with a hoarse and conscious importance. He was very little dreadful voice, exclaiming," You, Bess encumbered with flesh and blood; yet what Beetle, score a couple of fresh eggs, a penny-body he had was well proportioned, his limbs worth of butter, and a half pint of mountain, to the king; and stop credit till the bill is paid he is now debtor for fifteen shillings and sixpence, and damn me if I trust him one farthing more, if he was the best king in Christendom. And, d'ye hear, send Raggedhead with five pounds of potatoes for Major Macleaver's supper, and let him have what drink he wants: the fat widow gentlewoman from Pimlico has promised to quit his score. Sir Mungo Barebones may have some hasty pudding and small beer, though I don't expect to see his coin, no more than to receive the eighteen pence I laid out for a pair of breeches to his backside-what then? he's a were elegantly turned, and by his carriage he was well entitled to that compliment which we pay to any person when we say he has very much the air of a gentleman. There was also an evident singularity in his dress, which, though intended as an improvement, appeared to be an extravagant exaggeration of the mode, and at once evinced him an original to the discerning eyes of our adventurer, who received him with his usual complaisance, and made a very eloquent acknowledgement of the honour and satisfaction he received from the visit of the representative, and the hospitality of his constituents. The captain's peculiarities were not confined to |