ent down to
the hall, and perceived a person, whom, to the best of my recollection,
I had never seen before. However, his appearance was so magnificent,
that I could not harbour the least suspicion of his true quality; and,
seeing me advance, he saluted me with a very genteel bow, observing,
that though he had not the honour of my acquaintance, he could not
dispense with waiting upon me, even on that occasion, in consequence of
a letter which he had received from a particular friend. So saying, he
put a paper into my hand, intimating that he had got a writ against
me for ten thousand pounds, and that it would be my interest to submit
without resistance, for he was provided with a guard of twenty men,
who surrounded the door in different disguises, determined to secure me
against all opposition. Enraged at the scoundrel's finesse, and trusting
to the assistance of the real footmen assembled in the hall, 'So you are
a rascally bailiff,' said I, 'who have assumed the garb of a gentleman,
in order to disturb her ladyship's company. Take this fellow, my lads,
and roll him in the kennel. Here are ten guineas for your trouble.'
These words were no sooner pronounced, than I was seized, lifted up,
placed in a chair, and carried off in the twinkling of an eye; not but
that the servants of the house, and some other footmen, made a motion
towards my rescue, and alarmed all the company above. But the bailiff
affirming with undaunted effrontery, that I was taken up upon an affair
of state, and so many people appearing in his behalf, the countess would
not suffer the supposed messenger to be insulted; and he carried me to
the county jail without further let or molestation."

CHAPTER XCVIII.

Pickle seems tolerably well reconciled to his Cage; and is by the
Clergyman entertained with the Memoirs of a Noted Personage, whom he
sees by accident in the Fleet.

The knight had scarce finished his narrative, when our hero was told,
that a gentleman in the coffee-room wanted to see him; and when he
went thither, he found his friend Crabtree, who had transacted all his
affairs, according to the determination of the preceding day; and now
gave him an account of the remarks he overheard, on the subject of
his misfortune; for the manner of the arrest was so public and
extraordinary, that those who were present immediately propagated it
among their acquaintance, and it was that same evening discoursed upon
at several tea and card table