Page:Merry frolicks, or, The comical cheats of Swalpo, a notorious pick-pocket.pdf/11

 they ſaid one to another, this is a merry, witty, careful fellow, ſuch a one as he is fit to make a houſe, he deſerves double wages.

When Swalpo had ſufficiently amuſed the company, and ſaw his project ripe for execution, he was reſolved to trifle no longer: wherefore when he returned into the room with ſome wine and as he paſſed by my Lord, he laid hold of the opportunity, and with his inciſion-knife, which he uſed in pocket-picking, he nicely, and with admirable dexterity, made a ſlit in the back ſeam of my Lord's coat, and runs down ſtairs for more liquor. When he returned with a bottle in one hand, and the other full of glaſſes, before he came near my Lord, Swalpo ſtarts, ſaying, what cobling fellows are they that made this coat, could they not few a coat to hold but one day? This cabbage monger deſerved the pillory before for filching, but now grudging to allow a ſtitch or two more, he has committed a ſcandalum magnatum, and cauſed Lord to go in a rent coat, the firſt day of wearing perhaps. Some of the company riſing, and ſeeing the, great ſlit, told my Lord the taylor had affronted him. 'Says my Lord, I gave the fellows ſufficient vails, and both they and their maſter ſhall hear on't. My Lord, ſays Swalpo, 'tis only the end of a thread flipped. Such