and idol of my
senses. But to return to our situation.

After dinner, which we ate a-bed in most voluptuous disorder, Charles
got up, and taking a passionate leave of me for a few hours, went to
town, where concerting matters with a young sharp lawyer, they went
together to my late venerable mistress's, from whence I had, but the
day before, made my elopement, and with whom he was determined to settle
accounts, in a manner that should cut off all after reckonings from that
quarter.

Accordingly they went; but by the way, the Templar, his friend, on
thinking over Charles's information, saw reason to give their visit
another turn, and, instead of offering satisfaction, to demand it.

On being let in, the girls of the house flocked round Charles, whom they
knew, and from the earlyness of my escape, and their perfect ignorance
of his ever having so much as seen me, not having the least suspicion of
his being accessory to my flight, they were, in their way, making up to
him; and as to his companion, they took him probably for a fresh cully.
But the Templar soon checked their forwardness, by enquiring for the old
lady, with whom he said, with a grave-like countenance, that he had some
business to settle.

Madam was immediately sent for down, and the ladies being desired to
clear the room, the lawyer asked her, severely, if she did know, or had
not decoyed, under pretence of hiring as a servant, a young girl, just
come out of the country, called Frances or Fanny Hill, describing me
withal as particularly as he could from Charlie's description.

It is peculiar to vice to tremble at the enquiries of justice; and
Mrs. Brown, whose conscience was not entirely clear upon my account,
as knowing as she was of the town as hackneyed as she was in bluffing
through all the dangers of her vocation, could not help being alarmed at
the questions, especially when he went on to talk of a Justice of peace,
Newgate, the Old Bailey, indictments for keeping a disorderly house,
pillory, carting, and the whole process of that nature. She, who, it is
likely, imagined I had lodged an information against her house, looked
extremely blank, and began to make a thousand protestations and excuses.
However, to abridge, they brought away triumphantly my box of things,
which, had she not ben under an awe, she might have disputed with them;
and not only that, but a clearance and discharge of any demands on the
house, at the expense of no more than a bow