selves, and seldom
keep any thing from their knowledge. But if we
suppose him to make secret of this designed treaty,
it is impossible, before that treaty was thought of,
but she must have seen him, at least have heard
your uncle speak praisefully of a man he is said to
be so intimate with, let him have been ever so little
a while in those parts.

>>> Yet, methinks, the story is so plausible--Tom-
linson, as you describe him, is so good a man, and
so much of a gentleman; the end to be answered
>>> by his being an impostor, so much more than neces-
sary if Lovelace has villany in his head; and as
>>> you are in such a house--your wretch's behaviour
to him was so petulant and lordly; and Tomlin-
son's answer so full of spirit and circumstance;
>>> and then what he communicated to you of Mr.
Hickman's application to your uncle, and of Mrs.
Norton's to your mother, [some of which particu-
>>> lars, I am satisfied, his vile agent, Joseph Leman,
could not reveal to his vile employer;] his press-
ing on the marriage-day, in the name of your
uncle, which it could not answer any wicked pur-
>>> pose for him to do; and what he writes of your
uncle's proposal, to have it thought that you were
married from the time that you have lived in one
house together; and that to be made to agree with
the time of Mr. Hickman's visit to your uncle.
>>> The insisting on a trusty person's being present at
the ceremony, at that uncle's nomination--These
things make me willing to try for a tolerable construc-
tion to be made of all. Though I am so much
puzzled by what occurs on both sides of the ques-
>>> tion, that I cannot but abhor the devilish wretch,
whose inventions and contrivances are for ever em-
ploying an inquisitive head, as mine is, without
affording the means of absolute detection.

But this is what I am ready to conjecture, that
Tomlinson, specious as he is, is a machine of Love-
>>> lace; and that he is employed for some end, which
has not yet been answered. This is certain, that
not only Tomlinson, but Mennell, who, I think,
attended you more than once at this vile house,
must know it to be a vile house.

What can you then think of Tomlinson's declar-
ing himself in favour of it upon inquiry?

Lovelace too mu