nour of his company.

Directly I perceived that there were but few persons in the immediate
locality to observe me, and that those consisted of a tall guardsman
and his wife, a family of young children, with their nursery-maid, and
a debilitated East India captain; walking for the sake of his liver, I
overtook the incomparable Job, made him a low bow, and thus reverently
accosted him--

"Mr. Jonson, I am delighted once more to meet you--suffer me to remind
you of the very pleasant morning I passed with you in the neighbourhood
of Hampton Court. I perceive, by your mustachios and military dress,
that you have entered the army since that day; I congratulate the
British troops on such an admirable acquisition."

Mr. Jonson's assurance forsook him for a moment, but he lost no time in
regaining a quality which was so natural to his character. He assumed a
fierce look, and relevant sa moustache sourit amerement, like Voltaire's
governor [Note: Don Fernand d'Ibarra in the "Candide"]--"D--n your
eyes, Sir," he cried, "do you mean to insult me? I know none of your Mr.
Jonsons, and I never set my eyes upon you before."

"Lookye, my dear Mr. Job Jonson," replied I, "as I can prove not only
all I say, but much more that I shall not say--such as your little
mistakes just now, at the jeweller's shop in Oxford-street, perhaps it
would be better for you not to oblige me to create a mob, and give you
in charge--pardon my abruptness of speech--to a constable!--Surely there
will be no need of such a disagreeable occurrence, when I assure you,
in the first place, that I perfectly forgive you for ridding me of
the unnecessary comforts of a pocket-book and handkerchief, the
unphilosophical appendage of a purse, and the effeminate gage d'amour
of a gold bracelet; nor is this all--it is perfectly indifferent to me,
whether you levy contributions on jewellers or gentlemen, and I am
very far from wishing to intrude upon your harmless occupations, or to
interfere with your innocent amusements. I see, Mr. Jonson, that you are
beginning to understand me; let me facilitate so desirable an end by
an additional information, that, since it is preceded with a promise
to open my purse, may tend somewhat to open your heart; I am, at this
moment, in great want of your assistance--favour me with it, and I will
pay you to your soul's content. Are we friends now, Mr. Job Jonson?"

My old friend burst out into a loud laugh. "Well, Sir, I must say that
you