I should think proper; and, indeed, I came off but
scurvily, for, before I could avail myself of my speed, I received a
blow on the eye, from one of the other two, that had well nigh deprived
me of the use of that organ. However, I made shift to get home, where I
was informed of Captain Gawky's being robbed and abused by a company of
footpads, and was ordered by my master to prepare an emollient glyster
and paregoric draught, in order to allay and compose the ferment of his
spirits, occasioned by the barbarous treatment he had undergone, while
he took twelve ounces of blood from him immediately.

When I inquired into the particulars of this adventure, and understood
by the servant that he came in just before me, without hat and wig, I
made no scruple of believing him to be the person I had released, and
was confirmed in my belief upon hearing his voice, to which (before that
event) I had long been a stranger.

My eye being considerably swelled and inflamed, I could not reflect
upon my enterprise without cursing my own folly, and even resolving to
declare the truth the truth of the whole story in order to be revenged
on the cowardly wretch for whom I had suffered: accordingly, next day
after he had told, in presence of my master, his wife and daughter,
who came to him, a thousand lies concerning the prowess he had shown in
making his escape, I ventured to explain the mystery, and, calling
in the evidence of my contused eye, upbraided him with cowardice and
ingratitude. Gawky was so astonished at this that he could not answer
one word, and the rest of the company stared at one another; till
at length my mistress reprimanded me for my insolent behaviour, and
threatened to turn me away for my presumption. Upon which, Gawky (having
recollected himself) observed, as the young man might have mistaken
another person for him, he could forgive his insinuations, more
especially as he seemed to have suffered for his incivility; but
advised me to be more certain in my conjectures for the future, before I
ventured to publish them to the prejudice of any man. Miss applauded the
Captain's generosity in pardoning one who had so villainously aspersed
him, and I began to imagine her praise was not at all disinterested. But
the apothecary, who perhaps had more penetration or less partiality than
his wife and daughter, differed from them in their sentiments of the
matter, and expressed himself to me in the shop in this manner: "Ah mon
pauv