Page:Merry frolicks, or, The comical cheats of Swalpo, a notorious pick-pocket.pdf/10

 to do it ſooner than you can eaſily imagine. So out he runs, and dogging the robleman from ſtreet to ſtreet, at laſt followed him into a tavern. The nobleman was conducted up ſtairs; Swalpo goes to the bar-keeper, and deſires he would lend him an apron, for, ſays he, the nobleman, my maſter, wherever he comes, will be ſerved with none but myſelf; he is an extraordinary good cuſtomer, and expects the beſt of wine. I muſt go down to the collar and taſte it for him. Whereupon they let him have the apron, and he went into the cellar, and found out the beſt of every ſort. He ran ſo nimbly up and down ſtairs, and was ſo quick at his work, that none of the ſervants of the houſe could keep pace with him. The company looked upon him to be a ſervant belonging to the houſe, and were mightily pleaſed with his quickneſs and diligence, and the goodnefs of the wine, and every thing he brought them. Swalpo promiſed him that he ſhould have attended the room for very large vails, and he was very well ſatisfied to receive money for doing of nothing. Swalpo never came into the room but he paſſed ſome merry jeſts, which pleaſed them wonderfully; and when they ſpoke to him, his anſwers were ſo ſmart, and when he went for more wine, they