in Presence of this Lady who though a Stranger is long since acquainted with the Sincerity of my Heart The Count who had only a slight View of the Flemmish Lady in passing by finding by the Discourse that she was a Stranger went up to her to Salute her But having fixt his Eye upon her he was not a little astonisht He easily knew her by her Countenance and was at a stand and twice or thrice changed Colour He knew not what to say and had scarce the Confidence to Salute her The Lady as much surprized as he advanced not a step to do him that Honour and indeed had scarce the Patience to endure it The English Lady having observed all these different Actions the Trouble of the one and Coldness of the other knew not what to think of it and seeing there passed not a Word between them she asked If they knew one another And being no less astonisht than they added Were you not both my Friends I know not what I should think of this Business I confess Madam answered Count Brion endeavouring to Recover himself this Lady is so exactly like a Person of Quality I formerly had the Honour to know and be extreamly obliged to that I could not see her without Remorse for my Ingratitude towards her whereof I own my self Guilty and should think a thousand Lives if I had them well bestowed to Expiate my Offence The Fault must have been Great Replyed the English Lady and I cannot believe you a Man capable of such a Crime 'T is great indeed Madam And had I not hopes of Pardon from her Goodness I should dye for very Grief and Shame And what say you to this Madam answered the English Lady addressing her self to the Stranger Does this Matter concern you There must be some Cause for that Disorder and Trouble I observed in your Countenance on this Occasion Madam Replyed the Stranger the cause of my Surprize is just like that of the Gentlemans A Person very like him behaved himself towards me not so well as he ought and I took him for the Man There is something Extraordinary in this Adventure answered the English Lady and you must excuse me if I believe neither of you in what you have said I am very well assured Madam you came but Yester-day to Town and that the Count was never at Brussels So that I cannot comprehend where you could have seen one another but here Pray clear this doubt and tell me freely What is the business The Gentleman Replyed the Stranger can do it far better than I. There are some things said the Count not fit to be spoken at all times And then rising up I shall leave all said he to the Discretion and Generosity of this Lady and with-draw for the present being not very well With that taking Leave of the Ladies he went his way If ever Person was in Pain if ever Woman had the Curiosity to know any thing you may believe the English Lady so affected on the present Occasion For having really had and as frankly own'd an Esteem for the Count she was very much concern'd for him upon all Accounts and particularly those where any other of the Sex appeared any way concern'd for him Well Madam said she to the Stranger will not you tell me what the Meaning of this is Shall I not know the Adventure brought you acquainted with the Count I never had Reserve for you Your time is come to requite my Freedome The Lady refused a long time out of scruple to Ruin the Reputation of a Man who might perhaps be a Person of Quality and forced by Necessity to do what he had done But fearing he was nothing less and that her Friend might be abused by her good Opinion of the Count she made her first Promise not to speak of the business and then told her plainly This was the Officer she had told her of who had Escaped out of Prison Who Count Brion answered the Lady with a Tone and Action that sufficiently declared her Surprize Is he the Honest Man who stole your Cloaths and the two Swords from the Gentleman your Friend Yes Madam answered she the very same It is not possible Replyed the English Lady nor shall you make me believe though you make see it with my Eyes What you please said the Stranger but I assure you I know him on no other Account And if you will take the Pains to examine and reflect on what he said to me you may guess whether this be true or not Heavens cry'd she is it possible that a Man of his Quality should be reduced to the necessity of Acting such a Cheat He had reason to tell me He had never been at Brussels However he is still a Man of Birth and of Parts and I might have said of Merit too but for this unhappy Adventure 'T was but a Trick of Youth said the other and so may be pardon'd You know Men are but Men and France being at Wars with us he thought perhaps Robbing me was but Plundering the Enemy But now that he is in a better Condition than formerly he may make me amends and express his Sorrow for the Fact by making me Restitution Yes Madam Replyed the English Lady I will undertake he shall do it For besides the Generosity of his Nature he is a Person of Honour and will not fail to appear so on such an Occasion as this If such a thing should be known of him here where he has the Esteem and the Love of so many Persons of Quality What would become of him I would not for the World it should come to their Ears For as he Visits me ofner than any other I must expect to have the greatest share in his Disgrace Let me beg of you Madam it may go no further The Lady promis'd it and having other Visits to make took her Leave to go to the Lodging of another Lady of her Acquaintance Where Entering the Chamber she found her at some Difference with another Person who upon her coming in quitted the Room The Fair Flemming was received at this Visit with the same Joy and Honours she had found at the first And having past the first Complements of Civility and observed before that when she came in the Lady was in business with her who went forth she thought her self obliged to make her Excuse for disturbing them and interrupting their Discourse You may believe Madam by our Actions you saw that our Discourse was none of the Pleasantest and I verily think you did both of us a Pleasure For had you not come in we should have certainly quarrelled She was a French Lady who came to demand Money of me for two pair of Embroydred Bodyce I had of a French-man in Payment for Money I won of him at Play about two Moneths agoe She tells me The Bodyce were herâ— and that she had only trusted the French-man with them to Sell them for her I answered I
knew nothing of that and that I had honestly bought them and that she was to look after payment from her Commissioner The Stranger fell a Laughing at the Title of Commissioner and asked Who that honest Gentleman might be who pay'd his Debts with other Peoples Goods and to discharge what he ow'd one Lady borrowed the Bodyce of another This added she is a new piece of Gallantry not very much in Mode among the Persons of Quality Yes Replyed the English Lady this French-man would pass here for a Gallant by Profession and calls himself The Count De Brion But I never look'd upon him as other than a Valet De Chambre Travesty having neither the Wit nor the Manners nor the Sentiments non Carriage of a Person of Quality Nor do I see what Ground there is for that Esteem some Persons have for him here unless it be for that he is a Stranger He hath apeared at Court under the Auspice of a French Lord whose Favour alone might gain a Man Credit And that I believe hath Contributed most to the Honour a Man so little deserving hath received there But there are many who have changed their Opinion of him and think with me that he is not the Man he pretends to be Besides there are a number of People who knows the House of Brion and assure us there was but one Son of the Family and that he dyed in the Army It may be Madam sayes the Flemmish Lady the Gentleman you speak of may be some near Relation of the Counts No no replyed the other he sayes He is the Count Biron's own Brother and Heir and would pass for such at Court I was Yesterday with a Lady of my Acquaintance and as we were talking of some of his Cheating Tricks he happened to come in and told the Lady That a Dutchess he named having seen the fair Diamond Pendants at her Ears had a great Desire to have such another pair made for her and knowing he had the Honour to be acquainted with her had sent him on purpose to intreat her to lend her her Pendants for an Hour The Lady presently cast her Eyes upon me and I Mine on her both looking on one another but in such a manner that each of us understood well enough how Suspicious this Embassie appeared to the other My Friend having too much Wit to be catched in such Traps excused her self with saying She was engaged that Afternoon to make some Visits of Consequence and could not then spare her Pendants being at her Ears but that on the Morrow she would return him his Visit and afford him a sight of them This Day we shall know the Truth it being not probable that Lady would have sent such a Person as he on a Message of that Nature But I entertain vou too long Madam with this Subject yet the Gentleman I speak of being one who is very much talk'd of you may perhaps be glad to know him and the Description I have given you is much to the Life The strange Lady thanked her for the Favour she did her telling her She took so much Pleasure to hear her that it might pass for a Kindness to have a further Account of what she knew of this Count which perhaps she might requite her for by finding a time to Entertain her with Relations of a very like Nature You shall not be long here Replyed she but you 'l see him and in a few Dayes you may expect a Visit from him being indeed the most Impudent of Men and one who intrudes into all Places where Persons of Quality may be seen He is not Unhandsom and could we judge of Men's Birth by their Shapes we might believe him well Born but this is not the first time we have known the Man handsomer than the Master And as for me I will never be perswaded he is any other than a Serving-man All his Actions are mean and base his Words having nothing in them that carries the least Tast of a Noble and Elevated Wit And were it not for the Discourses he makes of his Person which he boasts to the Skyes on the account both of Gallantry and Bravery which I must tell you he maintains but very poorly by his Actions 't is the pittifullest Fellow for Conversation that ever I met with His best Talent is Impudence He calls himself the Friend or Relation of all the People of Quality in France In a word He made two Gentlemen believe he was with them at the Academy though neither of them could remember he had ever seen him before But that which will chiefly surprize you is The Impudence he exprest about a Letter he found on a Ladies Table of my Acquaintance where I was at Play He took it with him to the Play-House to shew it three or four Gentlemen who verily believed the Letter was addrest to him And the Person who had Written it being very considerable for Merit and Birth the Gentlemen seeing he treated the Count De Brion so obligingly had a better Opinion of him than formerly But it happned that one of these Gentlemen going from the Play-House went to the Lady to whom the Letter belong'd being directed to her and knowing the Familiarity between her and the Person who writ it asked her What Acquaintance the Count Brion had with her Illustrious Friend Not any I believe said she and I think so the rather for that he hath lately made use of my Intrest with him to procure him a Letter from him in his Favour to a Minister of State with whom he said he had Business of Importance I know not what to think of it Replyed the Gentleman but can assure you I just now saw a very obliging Letter he hath written to the Count. A Letter answered the Lady You shall find it was mine he found on the Table and gives it out for his own It fell out accordingly for the Letter to her was not to be found and what she told the Gentleman put it out of doubt that it was the same Letter As they were speaking of it Count Brion comes in The Lady was unwilling they should say any thing to him and to put him into such a Confusion at her Lodging as the Discovery of his Vanity must have certainly reduced him to But they brought it insensibly into Discourse by degrees You might imagine Madam the Count would have split on this Rock I looked for no less But his Impudence brought him off He maintained stoutly that he had been long acquainted with the Gentleman and had received several Letters from him and told us a hundred Particulars of him At last he play'd his part so well that if he did not abuse us all yet he left the one half of the Company donbtful whether what he said might not be true The Lady seeing her self engaged and knowing what he said was absolutely false press'd him more than the rest but he had the Dexterity to perplex her
so much that the Victory seemed to lean to his side Then falling into his Tone of Railery he told her She was very much mistaken if she thought that Gentleman Writ to none but to her That she was not the only Person received Letters from him That there were above ten Ladies in London could shew Letters from him as full of Gallantry as any she could produce And he would engage to let her see above a dozen if she would have Patience to stay till the Morrow So free was he of his Promises The Lady I believe was seriously concern'd at his Discourse and the rest of the Company knew not what to think of it She would have Lay'd her Watch worth Threescore Pounds Value against Tenn Guinneyes he would not perform what he undertook The Count Honestly told her That in not Laying the Wager he made her a Present of her Watch and that he would not put her to that Charge to find out the Truth That she need but to have Patience till the next Day he promised upon the Word of a Gentleman as he was to let her see several of those Letters I know not whether the Lady stept well that Night or not but I have been told That when she was up the Count Brion made her a Visit and turning all into Railery complain'd of her for driving on the business so far before so good Company excusing himself that he was obliged to do as he had done to save his Reputation That he knew very well she was the sole Person in England that the Gentleman had an Esteem for And that he would give him an Account of the Perplexity he had put her in on his score which was no small Signe she had no little Esteem for him This Lady whether satisfyed with this Acknowledgment or slighting further Satisfaction said no more of the Business He had the Fortune to meet many Adventures of this sort against which his Impudence was proof and saved him out of all The only one I observed him out of Countenance in was That of his Dancing at a Ball where having come off well enough he went to make his boast to one of the Principal Lords at Court that he had Danced alone at an Entry at a Ballet which he named This Lord being an Excellent Dancer and a great Critique in that Art engaged him to let him see that Entry The Count goes to the Musitians who having play'd several Ayres hit at last upon that which the Count might have wish'd had never been found being the Ayre for the Entry he had named They press'd him to Dance it The Ladies joyned their Forces with the rest of the Company to prevail with him but all to no purpose And the Answer he made them was He would not give them Cause to Laugh at him but they took the Liberty to do it A whole Day will be too short to tell you all I know of this Person but he is by this time pretty well known to most though all are not yet disabused but his Credit stands good He came hither in a very wretched Condition but quickly recovered the Equipage of a very great Lord at the Charges of three or four whom he got into his Snare And as for his poor Creditors he Entertains them with Expectation of some Bills of Exchange which have been long enough a coming to have arrived from Japan but you shall see at last he 'l go fetch them himself The Ladies having ended their Discourse of Count Brion spoke of other things till at last the Stranger having other Visits to make took her Leave and was scarce got down Stairs but she found the Lady she had made her first Visit to Disputing Somewhat hotly with two Chair-men The strange Lady took the Liberty to ask her What the matter was The other made Answer That Count Brion having return'd to her Lodging had Lent her his Chair and that the Chair-men would make her pay for it which was no usual thing The Count in the mean-time comes in and enraged at the sight of the Abuse offer'd the Lady by the Chair-men he took up his Cane and gave them three or four Blowes But he soon found as good as he brought for the Chair-men thinking the Bastonado intolerable return'd him Blowes with Usury Two to one was not so even a Match for Beating as Carrying The Ladyes were much troubled but knew not how to help him But by good Fortune a Gentleman came by with another behind him who parted the Fray The Man I last mentioned was a French-man who being newly arrived from Paris and having cast his Eye on Count Brion came up to him to Salute him Ah Monsieur Champagne sayes he I am heartily glad to meet you here Monsieur Champagne replyed the Count What d' you mean by that Whom d' you take me to be I mean answered the other that your Name is Champagne and I take you for a Bath-keeper's Boy I knew at Paris and Friend Replyed the Count Interrupting him you mistake your self I am Count Brion I do not mistake my self sayes the other and by this very good Token That you stole away the Cloaths of a Person of Quality which I was forced to pay for He spoke this so loud that all who stood by heard him what he said The Count was glad to take him by the Hand to draw him aside telling him He was mistaken The other as stifly maintain'd He was not and threatned to have him Arrested if he would not pay him for the Cloaths But I am Count Brion answered he much more troubled with this one French-man than he was with the two Porters You may be what you please sayes he when you have pay'd me for my Cloaths but till then Champagne Champagne and no Count Brion While they were engaged in this Fine Dialogue the Gentleman who had parted the Count and the Chair-men when they fought entertain'd himself in Discourse with the two Ladies but seeing a new Quarrel like to arise he stept aside and ask'd them what the matter was Nothing sayes the Count but an Insolent Fellow loves to hear himself talk and will needs take me for I know not who He is certainly Drunk and were it not for Respect to you I should make him know who I am The Man was going to Answer and had doubtless said worse than he had hitherto done but the Gentleman perswaded him to with-draw and so did the Count a great Piece of Service After this the Count sent in search of the French-man and did all in his Power to perswade him He was not Champagne and submitted how-ever to pay for the Cloaths in Question But all to no purpose This with many other Reasons made him resolve to leave London having Reigned there too long to continue any longer His Fortune was at the Height and he apprehended the Danger that if he endeavoured to Climb any Higher he might chance to take the Way to Heaven in a String The Lady of Brussels and the Man of Champagne were the Evil Starres that boded him a Storm of Bastonades It is the Prudence of Man kind to prevent such Tempests CHEATS who have Wit are very sensible how subject their Life is to Dangers of that kind He easily saw a Cloud of Misfortune gathering over his Head for his Insolence and Impudence at London and that it was time to with-draw Every thing hath its Season and he the better to know the proper Hour for packing away went to a Watch-maker who taken with his good Meine trusted him with two Gold-Watches with the help of which he took the Lucky Moment so right for getting away that neither Landlord nor Draper nor Taylor nor Tradesman whatever nor any other Creditor for he had of all sorts dreamt of his Journey only the Chair-men had him in the Wind being as the Story goes told of it by his Foot-boy who then were pay'd more than their due But to conclude his Cheats here and that he might go out of England so as he came in that is at other Mens Charges when he came to Harwich he went to a Merchant and told him He had a Letter from one of his Friends to desire him to procure him with all speed a Vessel for France but that he had unhappily lost it The Merchant Seeing him a handsom Man and in very good Equipage told him A Letter was needless and presently found him a Vessel bound for France agreed for six Pieces and with very much Ceremony saw him Embarked The Gentleman gets into France and having no desire it should be at his own Charges he found a way to differ with the Seamen who having agreed with the Merchant of Harwich for six Pieces the Count would pay them but six Pistols which the Mariners being unwilling to accept of he sent them with a Billet to him with whom they agreed and so got out of their Clutches So much may suffice for the Acts of Count Brion And now that he hath changed Country he must also change Name He gives him self the Title of The Baron of Vachere which it is reported was the same he past under in his Voyage for England The New Title was attended with New Adventures But we must hasten to find him at Paris where his Planet having alwayes had very ill Influence on him made him fall into the Hands of a Gentleman with whom he past from Diepe to Harwich who finding himself some-what concern'd in the Insolencies of this pretended Count caused him to be taken and clapt up in Prison He design'd to send him into England but upon a Ladies Intercession was content to see him Condemn'd to the Gallies where it is said he doth Wonders A sorry End for the Hero of a Rom ance It had been better for him to have been a Country Curate But who can resist his Fate And who knowes but worse might have befallen him Leading the Life he then led he had reason to expect to Hang one Day between Heaven and Earth and hath reason to think himself happy he is now out of Danger of cutting Capors at Tyburn THE END
Could my Nephew pay you his Respects without Consequence and that my Honour were not concerned as well Yours I should give him up to your dispose to do with him what you pleas'd But 't is a wild Youth who in the end will Ruin Ton and Me and 't is absolutely necessary to let him go and Travel for some time and learn to get his Living in another Country The Lady would press him no further hoping the Affection he had for his dear Nephew would make him alter his Resolution The Curate in the mean time takes his leave and Diana having opened the Gate for him he went Home where he found the Gallant in a very sweet Sleep But his good Uncle having awak'd him he was amaz'd to see him at that Hour in his Chamber and ask'd him What he pleas'd to have I come to tell you answered the Curate That my Lord would fain speak with you Speak with me replyed John Yes with you said the Curate about some Froliques that have been done this Night in the Castle for which a Freind of yours had like to have been well beaten John was not a little surprized at the Discourse but however he swore and protested He knew nothing of the Matter That it was three Dayes since he had been in the Castle and they did him wrong to charge him with their Disorders They have done you wrong indeed replyed the Curate but it was in letting you escape as they did Tell me you Arch-Rogue Went not you into the Castle by the Back-Gate at Eleven a Clock this Evening You think no body has seen you play your Pranks with the Lady You came not out of her Chamber at the Noyse made by the old Lord whom you thought to have dispatched All this I know to be false therefore get you up and clear your self before him 'T is Hanging matter if you do it not The unhappy Nephew was sufficiently troubled not able to defend himself from Conviction where the Proofs were so clear He knew the Kindness his Uncle had in store for him throwes himself at his Feet confesses all and begs his Pardon There is but one Remedy said the Curate you must put on your Cloaths and be gone immediately for Paris where they will teach you more Wit for if you stay till Day it will be too late there is a Warrant for Apprehending you John who was very willing to be fairly quit of the business and go Travel took this as a Favour rather than a Banishment from his Uncle He gets up makes up his Pack takes a little Money and gets into Paris where he soon made himself known He resolved to set the best Side outwards takes a Boy changes his Name from Le Brun to Le Bel And having laid out part of the Money he had from the Lady to put himself in Equipage he visited the great Ones and went every Day into the best Companies And had Wit and Impudence enough to bring him off well being not so Raw as to be taken for a Country Squire He soon gain'd considerable Acquaintance of the one Sex and the other But he was a little Knavishly given and had in his Nature an Inclination to Cheating he could never get rid of which spoyl'd all He had many Adventures both good and bad Paris being a place proper for that But the Adventure of his Lodging was the worst of all and sent him packing out of Town You shall hear it in few Words After several Cheats he had Acted here and there his Money growing low and finding himself no longer in a condition to visit the Ladies and keep the Company he had done at first he was forced for maintaining his Gallantry to submit to make Love to his Landlady She was a Woman not Unhandsome and had pleased other Men. He was in her Debt and in what Respect soever he considered the Conquest he could not but think it of advantage Women of her Character are quickly familiar their Calling obliges them to allow Men some Liberties which make them believe They will deny them nothing Mr. John Le Bel who after the good Fortune he had met with in the Village thought nothing so Impregnable but it must yield to his Charmes found so much Kindness from his Landlady from the first Day he spoke to her of Love that he thought the Business done and that she was deeply in Love with him and that it was not for his purpose to be ill-conditioned to her His Chamber was neer that of his Landlords and he could hear him go out to Market every Day as soon as 't was Light and leave his Wife in Bed to take her Morning Rest The happy Monsieur Le Bel thought it the most favourable Occasion in the World He gets up one Morning puts on his Night-Gown and without farther Ceremony goes to his new Mistresses Chamber and was at her Bed-side before she awakt He slips boldly into Bed what he did there I know not it is not written in his Story but certain it is he was there above half an Hour with her and no Noyse at all without doubt she took him for her Husband But at last having known him I cannot tell how finding her Mistake she cryed out withall her Force It was in truth a great piece of Folly and our Gallant paid dearly for it For the People of the House running in armed Cap-a-pe some with Broaches some with Forks some with Knives and other Arms from the Kitchin-Magazin enough to frighten a more dangerous Pallet than the sieur of John Le Bels Scarce gave him time to take his Breeches and his Hat the Blowes flew so thick about his Ears And this was that Jolly Combat which he published so much for his Honour where-ever he went and got him the Sir-Name of Monsieur du Joly Combat He was glad to get to the door without Stockings or Wastcoat but by Good Luck he was not far from a Broakers where with the little Money remain'd he bought a few Cloaths to set him out as well as an ill Suit could do for a second Adventure and at the same time chang'd Quarters for fear of new Assaults Paris is large and those who would hide themselves may easily do it Monsieur Le Bel stood in need of such a Place not only in regard of his Landlord but of those Persons of Quality he had had the Honour to be acquainted with being not then in a condition to maintain the Port he had appeared in However he must live and every Day will not furnish us with the kind Lady of the Castle But Folks sometimes meet with cross-grain'd Landladies By good Luck there was hard by his new Lodging a Bath-keeper who wanted a Boy The Employment was somewhat mean but those in Necessity stand not much upon Terms and Punctilos of Honour He offers his Service and is entertain'd And changing his Condition would also change his Name and calls himself Champagne And now
telling him That one pair of Staires higher he should find a Chamber open He got up thither and saw though without a Candle several Cloaths and other things lye on the Table and Stools there which might serve for a reasonable Prize But being in hopes of better Fortune in time this could not tempt him But he had the Curiosity to inform himself a little what Discourse there might pass between the good People below who visited one another at such an unseasonable Hour He had no very good Opinion of the Matter and thought if he could once discover the Secret it would be enough to render him necessary for the Lady He went down and stood close by the Door being more than half shut where he heard the Gentleman speak to this purpose I have taken the Liberty Madam to send your Boy to one of my Friends to intreat him to lend me a Sword having newly lost my own by a very pleasant Adventure There came said he this Mornning to our Inn a Young Frenchman who made as if he were a Person of Quality with a Lacquey at his Heels carrying a huge Port-mantle full of nothing but Rags Our Host at the first sight believ'd him what he was willing to be taken for and entertain'd him accordingly But in the Evening by what Chance I know not he discovered that this Honest Man who pretended himself A Discontented Officer of the Army was but a Deserter and civilly pray'd him to go out of his House The Officer took it as an Affront This occasioned high Words between them and from Words they fed to Blowes Our Host had a Cudgel in his Hand and to my sorrow the Officer finding my Sword in the Room laid hold upon it We ran in to see what the matter was and as we were busie about parting them the French Cavalier went away with my Sword and I came off with the Loss Mine Host having seized on his Hat and his Baggage though so inconsiderable 't will scarce pay his Score The Lady amazed at this Story thinking the Discontented Officer very near akin to the Officer escap'd out of Prison askt the Gentleman What kind of Person the Frenchman was and what Habit he had which he described to be so like the Man and Habit she had newly seen in her Chamber that she doubted no longer but he was the very same But whether out Prudence or Charity she said nothing of it being willing to save from further trouble a Wretch who had fled to her for Refuge and fearing the bustle the Gentleman would make about it being very passionate and hoping to help him to his Sword again which though he should have lost was no great matter to him she did but Laugh heartily at the Story But the Gallant who had heard all this Discourse did not think fit to slight an Information of so much Importance He presently gets up Staires again and in a very short time makes up his Pack which he takes under his Arm and straight-way goes down the Staires and being unwilling to leave any thing behind that was so justly his own he slip'd away with his naked Sword in his Hand But just as he was opening the Street-Door he meets the Ladie 's Boy with a Sword in his hand who you may well think might be surpriz'd to find a Man like our Officer coming in that Posture out of his Mistresses House But our Officers Wit was so ready that he presently asked the Boy If that were not a Sword he carryed to a Gentleman who was there above Stayres To which the Boy having answered It was Friend sayes the Officer you have no more to do but deliver it me the Gentleman hath found his Sword I have it here in my Hand and am going for the Scabbard to his Landlord at the Inn The Boy was Young and the Trick so neat it might have catch'd an old One He gave him the Sword and at his new Friends Request lent him his Hat till his Return from the Inn whither he was going for the Gentlemans Scabbard Monsieur Le Bel being thus got out of the Bryers the Boy gets up Staires The Gentleman presently ask'd him for his Sword The Boy answer'd He had given it the Man without a Hat who had the other Sword in his Hand What Man Replyed the Gentleman The same said the Boy that is gone to the Inn for your Scabbard The Gentleman knowing nothing of what the Boy meant thought he was in Drink But the Lady who presently apprehended the Matter and that the Discontented Officer had not been Content with one Sword fell a Laughing so heartily that the Gentleman not knowing the reason was some-what displeased and pray'd her to tell him if she knew What was become of his Sword The Lady with much adoe forbearing to Laugh answered The same Rogue that had taken his First had Cheated him of his Second Sword How Madam Replyed he the Frenchman Yes the very same said she your Discontented Officer But why Madam d' you tell me so How should you know it You do but Raily Let 's hear what manner of Man this Man without a Hat was The Boy Described him so much to the Life it could not be doubted but he was the Discontented Officer The Gentleman more astonisht than before turns him to the Lady and asks her How she came to know this very fine Gentleman Sir said she Give me time to breath and I will tell you the Story Then did she relate how he came to her Chamber and the Tale he had told her of his being escaped out of Prison which moved her to pitty him being not able on so pressing an Occasion to deny Refuge to a Person of Quality as he seemed to be The Gentleman answered All this was well but that she ought to have told him of his being at her Lodging that it had at least saved him one of his Swords and that having understood so much of him she might have concluded him a Rogue that deserved not her Favour She excused her self with the Considerations we have mentioned being a Person of so tender a Soul and truly good Natur'd she could not find in her heart to do the worst of Men any harm Madam Replyed the Gentleman were it your case would you be served so Sir sayes she I fear I have lost more than you and that my Compleasance hath by this time cost me very dear For when you came in I sent him up into a Chamber where all my things lay at Six and Sevens But the best of it is he had not any Light The Gentleman fell a Laughing at the Ladies Ingenuity as if Thieves wanted Light to find out their Booty and told her Such Peoples Eyes were in their Hands and that their Fingers were their Candle They asked the Boy If the Man he had given the Sword to carryed any thing with him Nothing said the Boy but a Bundle under his Arm This Alarmed the Lady
and the Gentleman had his turn of Laughing at her They went up to the Chamber and found he had carryed away in Cloaths and other things to the value of a hundred Pistols The Lady was some-what comforted thinking he could not be gone far for want of a Hat But the Boy presently told her He had lent him his which made them more Sport So that in truth they had no more to do but sit down by the Loss having all had their share not excepting the Foot boy in suffering by the Cheats of the pretended Officer Some Moneths after this Lady for whom Fortune had prepared new Adventures with our Here went for England and soon after her Arrival there visited a Person of Quality with whom she had Contracted a very intimate Acquaintance at Brussels She was received with Expressions of the highest Joy and Affection the Lady being extreamly glad at the Hopes of an Opportunity to pay her at London the Civilities and Kindnesses received from her in Flanders They past from Complement to Discourse of their Friends and from that to the News at Court The Stranger having a Designe to continue some time in England was very desirous to inform her self particularly of the state of Affaires and have some Knowledge of the Country and was very well satisfied she made her Address to a Lady very knowing in those Points and one who failed not to give her a Relation both general and particular of all the fine Ladies and their Gallants in that Court Her Discourse might have past for a Chronicle in Epitome containing in short The History of the Gallants of either Sex As well the Ladies who by their good Conduct preserved their Reputation as those who had utterly forfeited and lost it And of the Gentlemen as well those who were worthy the paines of being Loved as those who were look'd upon as the Scandal of Ladies She proceeded yet further and being antient Acquaintance gave the strange Lady some Maximes and Rules of Conduct in that Court which with a little Practice should make her able to give Instruction to others After this long Discourse the Stranger who knew that the Lady her Acquaintance being a very beautiful Person had alwayes had her share of the Gallantries in Fashion where-ever she dwelt asked her similing Whether she continued still the course of her Conquests She answered somewhat Coyly That she bore no part in the Comedies now Acted on the Stage of the World but was only a Spectator not that she was become insensible or that those who have been in Love can ever cease to be so but to speak truth whether it were the weakness of her Fancy or the goodness of her Judgment she had no Inclination at least for those of this Country That she was for Strangers and especially the French whom she most affected You are not an English-Woman then Replyed the Stranger Not by Inclination answered she though Born in the middle of England Did you but know added she the Ayre and the Grace the French have in Gallantry but I need not tell it you who come from a Court intirely French There is one here whom I see sometimes He is in no small Esteem among the Beauties That may be the reason Madam answered the Stranger you are not altogether Impartial as to those of this Country You are my Friend Replyed she and I confess ingenuously I have some Esteem for him but that 's all He is a Person of Quality he hath Wit he is Handsom and visits me oftner than others which is enough to gain an Esteem from me who am Naturally no Hater of the French He might have got an Interest in a far handsomer Lady and I know those who Aspired to the Conquest of his Heart But his Stars or perhaps some small Merit of mine hath made him yield to those small Charmes I carry with me You shall see him here it will not be long ere he comes you shall give me your Judgment of him The French answered the Stranger have certainly a good Meine and are Witty and to speak generally surpass all other Nations in Gallantry and are their Masters therein But to tell you the truth We are to take heed of them especially in a strange Country You shall have a poor Farmer 's Son shall give himself the Title of Marquess of the Place he was Born in Another who never was better qualified than a Valet De Chambre shall call himself by his Masters Name the better to Cheat some Shop-keeper or Tradesman There is such a Swarm of such Gallants in the World that I believe in good Earnest that People of Quality must for the Future carry with them Authentick Testimonials or must be content to lye under Suspition of not being what they justly pretend to I can tell you a Story Madam what a Trick I was served some Moneths agoe for my willingness to Pleasure a Frenchman of this Character Then she gave her an account at large of all the Particulars concerning the pretended Officer at Brussels at which the Lady Laught very heartily and confest it was a notable Cheat But that Right must be done to Persons of Quality and that there is a Difference between those that are Men of Honour and those who are not The Person I speak of added she carries in his Countenance the Character of Honesty and hath in all his Actions an Ayre Remote and altogether different from any thing of Baseness and Meanness That he may very well pass for a Pattern of Generosity and Vertue He came hither with a Person of Quality In a word It is the Count Brion Count Brion Madam Replyed the Stranger If I be not mistaken I have Read in the Gazett He was Dead Yes the Elder Brother answered the Lady but this is the Younger who is come to a great Estate by the Death of his Brother And to the Advantages of Fortune and Birth hath added that of the highest Merit Some matter of Honour as I understand by others A Duel fought much to his Advantage hath been the Cause of his flying hither for Refuge He is not altogether unhappy Madam answered the Flemmish Lady since Banished his own he finds in this Country some place in your Esteem which cannot but be a very pleasant Refuge You are alwayes obliging Madam Replyed the English Lady I have not Vanity enough to flatter my self with an Opinion of being able to serve Count Brion in his Misfortunes She had hardly done speaking when the Count entred who having heard the last Words of the Ladies Discourse answered Smiling If any thing can lessen the Misfortune you speak of it must certainly be the Honour of your Esteem I cannot call my self unhappy since the Day I believed you have any Value for me T is true Sir Replyed the Lady did your Happiness depend on that you should have no great cause to complain of it for I should be sure to do you Justice This I averr