SWINDLING. 291 



to be one of the greatest swindlers in or 

 out of London, and I hope you have 

 had no transactions with him." 



On my relating the circumstance, he as- 

 sured me that " the bill was not worth one 

 farthing, and said I had better get the horses 

 back if I could." 



I returned home, a day or two after 

 this interview, and found that the plot 

 had been blown, and that the gentleman 

 had decamped without bidding farewell 

 to those who had good reason to re- 

 member so accomplished an adept in his 

 art. 



The Hampshire weekly paper had been 

 published, and the man's ingenious man- 

 ner of living made known, while the 

 very easy method in which he provided 

 himself with a pair of handsome carriage 

 horses, at the expense of a young coach- 

 proprietor, was jocosely exposed ; even the 

 hospitable treatment of his gentlemanly 

 visitor was named, as well as the chro- 



u2 



