Page:Adventures of the extravagant wit, or, The English swindler.pdf/9

( 9 ) but alſo offend the ears of the modeſt reader, here to inſert whar diſcourſe we had; therefore I ſhall wave i, and come to the concluſion Sir, ſaid ſhe, I queſtion not but that you are acquainted with the cuſtoms of the houſe? I proteſted to her, that I was altogether ignorant. Why, you muſt know, that you may call for what wine you pleaſe not exceeding four bottles; and if you pleaſe to eat, you ſhalt have ſome choice bit, ſuitable to the ſeaſon: if you ſtay net all night, your expence ſhall be but forty ſhillings, and you ſhall have to boot the enjoyment of a miſtreſs: but if you ſtay all night, then thus muſt you do you muſt depoſit, before you go to bed, ten guineas, laying it underneath your own head, and for every kiſs. &c. take a piece back again; and if you draw in this manner all your own ſtake, you may next day be diſmiſſed with a great deal of applauſe, without expending a penny. I was ſtark mad to be at it, and to inpatient that I preſently told out ten pieces. Telling my money the next morning, I found I had drawn eight pieces of my ten; aud thouyht two guineas were rever better ſpent, nor huſbanded with ſo much recreation and delight.

Having gone thus far without any remarkable check, at leaſt any ſuch as inight bear a proportion with the villaries and injuries I had done; I abſolutely thought that nothing was diſhoneſt or difficult, that had in it either pleaſure or profit. Meeting with no molestation or hindrance, I took my freedom to do even what I listed But when I thought myſelf moſt ſecure, I then found I was in the greateſt danger: ſeveral times there was attempts made to take me, but I was ſtill too cunning for them: yet at laſt they over-reached me, being arreſted in an action of 5000l and conveyed to the King's Bench. Being ſoon weary of this place,