his friends; but this was a
provision not at all suited to his inclination; and he had endeavoured,
by divers unsuccessful schemes, to retrieve his former independency.

Peregrine happened one evening to be sitting alone in a coffee-house,
where he overheard a conversation between this schemer and another
gentleman, touching an affair that engaged his attention. The stranger
had been left trustee for fifteen hundred pounds bequeathed to the
other's daughter by an aunt, and was strongly solicited to pay the money
to the child's father, who assured him, he had then an opportunity to
lay it out in such a manner as would greatly conduce to the advantage of
his family. The trustee reminded him of the nature of his charge, which
made him accountable for the money until the child should have attained
the age of eighteen; but at the same time gave him to understand,
that, if he could procure such security as would indemnify him from the
consequences, he would forthwith pay the legacy into his hands. To this
proposal the father replied that it was not to be supposed he would
risk the fortune of his only child upon any idle scheme or precarious
issue; and therefore he thought it reasonable, that he should have the
use of it in the meantime; and that, as to security, he was loth to
trouble any of his friends about an affair which might be compromised
without their interposition; observing, that he would not look upon his
condescension as a favour, if obtained by security, on which he could
borrow the same sum from any usurer in town.

After much importunity on one side, and evasion on the other, the
moneyed gentleman told him, that, though he would not surrender the sum
deposited in his hands for the use of his daughter, he would lend him
what he should have occasion for in the meantime; and if, upon her being
of age, he should be able to obtain her concurrence, the money should be
placed to her account, provided he could find any person of credit, who
would join with him in a bond, for the assurance of the lender. This
proviso was an obstruction which the other would not have been able to
surmount, without great difficulty, had not his cause been espoused by
our hero, who thought it was a pity a man of honour and understanding
should suffer in his principal concerns on such a paltry consideration.
He therefore, presuming on his acquaintance, interposed in the
conversation as a friend, who interested himself in the affair; and,