Page:The London Guide and Stranger's Safeguard.djvu/227

Rh. In short, all that is disagreeable to the sedate, discriminating, part of the commercial world, is to he found in the swindler. He not only talks higher, but dresses higher; his pretensions to the commonest intelligence, upon the commonest topics, is always overcharged, and disgusting to moderate men. He has a warehouse,—or a counting house; perhaps chambers in the city—(those doubtful progeny of declining trade)! "How are they furnished? or how filled? Whereabout does he live, or lodge, or lie?" Answer 1. Empty shelves; few books, but none of magnitude or long standing; and as for the chambers, what are the other occupiers on the same spot; and how long have they been in their present state, or he an occupier of them? To the second I answer, that he lives upon his wits, lodges any where, and lies every where.

How nearly do these approximate to the other cheats we have described! viz. Smugglers, Duffers, Mock auctioneers? Only differing in this, that these latter are sellers, for money; the Swindler is a buyer of goods without money, (for which he substitutes "his own bills:") the one sells in detail, at a careful price, the other buys at any price; credit being all he looks for.

Swindlers generally take a shop, counting