nge,
any more than of the occasion of it; but as he was conscious to himself
of having deserved worse than contempt at their hands, he was glad to
come off so cheaply, and contented himself with muttering curses and
threats against the apothecary, who, as he imagined, having got an
inkling of the appointment with his wife, had taken revenge of him
in the manner described. By the time he had got a new scarf skin his
character was become so notorious, that he thought it high time for him
to decamp; and his retreat he performed in one night, without beat of
drum, after having robbed his own servant of everything that belonged to
him except the clothes he had on his back.

A few days after he disappeared, Mr. Lavement, for his own security,
took into his custody a large old trunk which he had left; and as it
was very heavy, made no question that the contents were sufficient to
indemnify him for what O'Donnell owed in lodging. But a month being
elapsed without hearing any tidings of this adventurer, and my master
being impatient to know what the trunk contained, he ordered me to break
it open in his presence, which task I performed with the pestle of our
great mortar, and discovered, to his inexpressible astonishment and
mortification, a heap of stones.

About this time, my friend Strap informed me of an offer he had to go
abroad with a gentleman in quality of valet de chambre and at the same
time assured me that, whatever advantage he might propose to himself
from this prospect, he could not bear the thoughts of parting from me,
so much was he attached to my fortune. In spite of all the obligations I
owed to this poor, honest fellow, ingratitude is so natural to the heart
of man, that I began to be tired of his acquaintance: and now that I had
contracted other friendships which appeared more creditable, was
even ashamed to see a journeyman barber inquiring after me with the
familiarity of a companion. I therefore, on pretence of consulting his
welfare, insisted upon his accepting the proposal, which he at last
determined to embrace, with great reluctance, and in a few days, took
his leave of me, shedding a flood of tears, which I could not behold
without emotion. I now began to look upon me as of a gentleman in
reality; learned to dance, frequented plays during the holidays; became
the oracle of an ale-house, where every dispute was referred to my
decision; and at length contracted an acquaintance with a young
lady, who f