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 I am sensible that some ill-meaning Persons may say, that this Salute is very like that used by two Irish Curs, when each suspects the other to differ from him in Sex, and hopes he may prove a Bitch. But those Gentlemen may be pleas'd to consider, that both the Persons mentioned were really Brutes, and that this Compliment pass'd between them purely out of Complaisance; tho' I cannot affirm it for certain Truth; or else my own Solution of the Matter might satisfy, I think, an unprejudic'd Person.

But to return from this Digression: While I was entertaining my self with Reflections on the Behaviour of those People, notice was given me that his Majesty was at leisure to look at me; I instantly inverted my Body, and began to move upon my Hands after my Guide, but had much difficulty in my Passage; for the Courtiers press'd so hard to view me in this uncommon Posture, that they often trod upon my Fingers. At length I came into the King's Presence, where I met with different Treatment at first from what I expected; for after that I had made the greatest Protestations of my Fidelity and Readiness to serve him in the Court Dialect, he told me, with a Frown, that he took me for an Impostor, who, to carry on some Designs against the State, and prevent my being readily known, had appear'd in that manner. He added, that I must certainly be a Scusmlr, (which Word, in our Language, signifies a Man of Law, if you interpret it literally) or one that undertook to prove both Sides of a Question, since I had now made it doubtful, which End of a Man ought to be uppermost; and concluded that I should be rewarded accordingly; but the Time and Manner of it were yet to be consider'd of. I shou'd have inevitably died at that Time, had it not been for a Lie which I told; for I assur'd his Majesty, that all Foreigners of Distinction, as well as Ambassadors, approach our Kings in that Posture which he saw me in; whence he inferr'd, that it was difficult to know which