up; and at the same time bid
her tell me, that he was come on purpose to talk with me about a piece
of home news that everybody in town will be full of two hours hence. I
ordered my maid as soon as she came into the room, without hearing her
message, to tell the gentleman, that whatever his news was, I would
rather hear it two hours hence than now; and that I persisted in my
resolution not to speak with anybody that morning. The wench delivered
my answer presently, and shut the door. It was impossible for me to
compose myself to sleep after two such unexpected alarms; for which
reason I put on my clothes in a very peevish humour. I took several
turns about my chamber, reflecting with a great deal of anger and
contempt on these volunteers in politics, that undergo all the pain,
watchfulness, and disquiet of a First Minister, without turning it to
the advantage either of themselves or their country; and yet it is
surprising to consider how numerous this species of men is. There is
nothing more frequent than to find a tailor breaking his rest on the
affairs of Europe, and to see a cluster of porters sitting upon the
Ministry. Our streets swarm with politicians, and there is scarce a shop
which is not held by a statesman. As I was musing after this manner, I
heard the upholsterer at the door delivering a letter to my maid, and
begging her, in a very great hurry, to give it to her master as soon as
ever he was awake, which I opened, and found as follows:

"MR. BICKERSTAFF,

"I was to wait upon you about a week ago, to let you know, that the
honest gentlemen whom you conversed with upon the bench at the end
of the Mall, having heard that I had received five shillings of
you, to give you a hundred pounds upon the Great Turk's being
driven out of Europe, desired me to acquaint you, that every one of
that company would be willing to receive five shillings, to pay a
hundred pounds on the same conditions. Our last advices from
Muscovy making this a fairer bet than it was a week ago, I do not
question but you will accept the wager.

"But this is not my present business. If you remember, I whispered
a word in your ear as we were walking up the Mall, and you see what
has happened since. If I had seen you this morning, I would have
told you in your ear another secret. I hope you will be recovered
of your indisposition by to-morrow morning, when I will wait on