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 hammer his flint with great deliberation.—But I was resolved to make use of the advantage fortune had given me and therefore stept up, without throwing away my fire, and desired him to ask his life, or prepare for another world. But this stout Hibernian refused to condescend. and complained bitterly of my having quitted my ground. I endeavoured to persuade him that I had given him a double chance already. He told me that he was a gentleman of fortune, who had spent all he had an hearing that Melinda had got ten thousand pounds he intended to make himself master of that sum by espouting her and was determined in an honourable way to cut the throats of all those who stood between him and his hopes. I then demanded to know the foundation of his hopes. He gave me to understand, that trusted entirely to his birth and personal merit; that he had frequently  Melinda, setting forth his claim and pretentions but she was never kind enough to send an answer, or even to admit him into her presence, and that the promise was made in his friend Mr. Gahagan, who assured him that no woman could resist a man of his appearance. I could not forbear laughing at the simplicity of my rival; on which I endeavoured to appease him by giving him my word of honour, that so far from prejudicing his addresses to the lady, I would represent him to her in the most favour-