Page:Adventures of the extravagant wit, or, The English swindler.pdf/5

( 5 ) upon I went to the Scrivener again, and told him, that I had now a fair opportunity to benefit myſelf very much by a purchaſe provided he would aſſiſt me with two hundred pounds more. But, ſir, ſaid I, take notice in a careleſs and generous franknefs) that it is out of a particular reſpect to you, that you might profit by me, that I cose again; neither will I now give you any other ſecurity than my own bond; but if you will deſire to be ſatisfied as to my eſtate, pray let your ſervant go to ſuch a place in Surry, there is a piece of gold to bear his charges. He promiſed me to do what I required. Imagining what time his ſervant would return, I appeared to him again and underſtood that he received as much ſatisfaction as Ire could require Hereupon I had on my own bund the money paid me.

I cannot but laugh to think how ſtrangely the Surry gentleman was ſurpriſed, when the money becoming due, was demanded of him; and how like the figure of the man in hasgines the Scrivener looked, when he found himſelf cheated.

Walking one time in the fields, I was got as far as Hackney before I thought where I was, for my though's were buſied about deſigns. Caſting my ege on the one ſide of me, I faw the prettieſt built h uſe that ever I beheld. I preſently had a covetous deſire to be maſter thereof; I walked but a little way further, and I ſoon found out a plot to accompliſh my deſires. I returned, and knocked at the gate, and demanded of the ſervant whether his matter was within? I underſtood he was, and there spon defired to ſpeak with him, The gentleman came out to me himſelf, deſiring me to walk in. After I had made a genteel apology, I told him my buſineſs, which was only to requeſt the favour of him, that I might have the privilege to bring a workman to ſurvey his houſe, and take the dimen-