of sour wine? Here the turnkey interrupted
her by affirming with an oath, that the wine was as good as ever was
tipped over tongue. "Well," continued she, "that maybe; but were it the
best of champagne, it is no recompense for the damage I have suffered
both in character and health, by being wrongfully dragged to jail; at
this rate, no innocent person is safe, since an officer of justice, out
of malice, private pique, or mistake, may injure and oppress the subject
with impunity; but, thank heaven, I live under the protection of laws
that will not suffer such insults to pass unpunished, and I know very
well how to procure redress." Mr. Vulture, for that was the bailiff's
name, finding he had to deal with one who would not be imposed upon,
began to look very sullen and perplexed, and, leaning his forehead on
his hand, entered into a deliberation with himself, which lasted a few
minutes, and then broke out in a volley of dreadful curses against the
old jade our landlady, as he called her, for having misinformed him.
After much wrangling and swearing, the matter was referred to the
decision of the turnkey, who calling for the other bottle, mulcted the
bailiff in all the liquor that had been drunk, coach hire, and a couple
of guineas for the use of the plaintiff. The money was immediately
deposited; Miss Williams gratified the two evidences with one half,
and putting the other in her pocket drove home with me, leaving the
catchpole grumbling over his loss, yet pleased in the main, for having
so cheaply got clear of a business that might have cost him ten times
the sum, and his place to boot. This guinea was a very seasonable relief
to us, who were reduced to great necessity, six of my shirts, and almost
all my clothes, except those on my back, having been either pawned
or sold for our maintenance before this happened. As we resented the
behaviour of our landlady, our first care was to provide ourselves with
another lodging, whither we removed next day, with an intention to keep
ourselves as retired as possible, until our cure should be completed.
When we were fixed in our new habitation, I entreated her to finish the
story of her life, which she pursued in this manner:--

'The success of our experiment on the judge encouraged us to practice
the same deceit on others; but this harvest lasted not long, my
character taking air, and my directress deserting me for some new game.
Then I took lodgings near Charing-Cross, at two gui