t of her own invitation. The
waggoner, understanding the case, advised Isaac to make it up, by giving
her a sum of money: to which advice he replied with great vehemence, "A
sum of money!--a halter for the cockatrice!" "Oh! 'tis very well," said
Miss Jenny; "I see it is in vain to attempt that flinty heart of his by
fair means. Joey, be so good as to go to the justice, and tell him
there is a sick person here, who wants to see him on an affair of
consequence." At the name of justice Isaac trembled, and bidding Joey
stay, asked with a quavering voice, "What she would have? She told
him that, as he had not perpetrated his wicked purpose, she would be
satisfied with a small matter. And though the damage she might sustain
in her health might be irreparable, she would give him a release for
a hundred guineas." "A hundred guineas!" cried he in an ecstacy, "a
hundred furies! Where should a poor old wretch like me have a hundred
guineas? If I had so much money, d'ya think I should be found travelling
in a waggon, at this season of the year?" "Come, come," replied Jenny,
"none of your miserly artifice here. You think I don't know Isaac
Rapine, the money-broker, in the Minories. Ah! you old rogue! many a
pawn have you had of me and my acquaintance, which was never redeemed."
Isaac, finding it was in vain to disguise himself, offered twenty
shillings for a discharge, which she absolutely refused under fifty
pounds: at last, however, she was brought down to five, which he paid
with great reluctancy, rather than be prosecuted for a rape. After which
accommodation, the sick person made a shift to get into the waggon,
and we set forward in great tranquillity; Strap being accommodated
with Joey's horse, the driver himself choosing to walk. The morning and
forenoon we were entertained with an account of the valour of Captain
Weazel, who told us he had once knocked down a soldier that made game of
him; tweaked a drawer by the nose, who found fault with his picking his
teeth with a fork, at another time; and that he had moreover challenged
a cheesemonger, who had the presumption to be his rival: for the truth
of which exploits he appealed to his wife. She confirmed whatever he
said, and observed, "The last affair happened that very day on which I
received a love-letter from Squire Gobble, and don't you remember, my
dear, I was prodigiously sick that very night with eating ortolans, when
my Lord Diddle took notice of my complexion's being al