Sample of some Gentleman's Autobiography. 19 



backed tiger, in a demure respectable livery, sate a woman, the rich 

 border of whose veil covered the whole of her face, except one rosy lip 

 and an ivory chin, that reminded me of something I had seen before, 

 I could not recollect where. " He looks like a gentleman in distress," 

 said she, in a voice that thrilled to my heart, for I knew it. " Get out, 

 Buffalo, giye him what silver you have, and my card. I shall be at home 

 to-morrow at eleven, and if deserving he shall not want relief." 



The next morning thanks to the tiger's purse, and my economizing 

 for the night under a hedge I appeared at Mrs. Robinson's door, in 

 comparatively decent trim. The hunchbacked tiger shewed me into a 

 back parlour, where I found his mistress at breakfast. " Dick," said she, 

 "your appearance distresses me : what has occurred?" 



I frankly told her, to the best of my recollection, how I came to be in 

 so deplorable a plight, and enlarged vehemently on the conduct of 

 Thornhose. She laughed heartily at the recital, and uttered a string of 

 compliments, which to me were alike unintelligible and uncalled for, on 

 my talent at victimizing. " I have received some benefit, Dick," added 

 she, "from your operations, and, of course rejoice at their success. To 

 find you thus, however, gives me more pleasure than if you were rolling 

 in riches ; for you're too deep to be booked beyond mere moderation. 

 The fact is, I just want such a man as you, in so desperate condition. 

 You must arrest me to-morrow for 500/." 



I protested that the circumstance of her being indebted to me in such 

 an amount, had completely slipped my memory. 



"No doubt," said she, with a bitter sneer, for which I could never 

 forgive her, " therefore you can have no possible objection, I should sup- 

 pose, against allowing ten shillings in the pound, to one who reminds you 

 of the obligation." 



" None in the world," I replied, " the proposition is most equitable." 



" Then/' said she, " go down to Jarvis and Saffron, of Plum Court, who 

 act for me under the rose, and make an affidavit of the debt. There is a 

 five pound note for you to get a * local habitation/ and be sure you are at 

 hand to-morrow, if wanted." 



" Thank you, my dear," quoth I, " but, as my memory is not sufficiently 

 strong on this trifle, to satisfy my conscience had you not better just give 

 me, by way of form, an I. O. U. for the amount ? I could then swear safely, 

 you know.; and if your present protector should be loving enough to 

 emancipate you from the spunging-house " 



" You have just hit it, Dick," interrupted she ; " I want 2507., and he 

 must find it. At present, live without me he can't : he's just in full blos- 

 som, and it would be folly to let him fade. But I've so plucked him, that 

 nothing short of the project I've hit upon would make him moult to such 

 an amount. Besides yourself, Dick, I know no other whom I can trust : 

 the terms are so liberal on my part, that, I think, they must insure honour 

 on yours." 



" Naturally," said I ; " besides, Jarvis and Saffron are your own 

 attornies." 



" True, true 5 so there there are the three lawful letters, with my 

 scrawl of a signature. And now, Dick, be off at once : my dearly beloved, 

 keen as he is, will never, I'm sure, suspect this trick. An revoir /" 



Before I had gone a dozen doors from Mrs. Robinson's house, I had 

 utterly forgotten the address of her solicitors ; but I walked on, hoping it 



C2 



