y understand. However, it
may be explained by the old proverb, of 'the devil was sick,' As long
as Dawson is stowed away in a dark hole, and fancies devils in every
corner, he may be very anxious to make confessions, which, in broad
day-light, might not seem to him so desirable. Darkness and solitude are
strange stimulants to the conscience, and we may as well not lose any
advantage they give us."

"You are an admirable reasoner," cried I, "and I am impatient to
accompany you--at what hour shall it be?"

"Not much before midnight," answered Jonson, "but your honour must
go back to school and learn lessons before then. Suppose Bess were
to address you thus: 'Well you parish bull prig, are you for lushing
jackey, or pattering in the hum box?' [Note: Well, you parson thief, are
you for drinking gin, or talking in the pulpit?] I'll be bound you would
not know how to answer."

"I am afraid you are right, Mr. Jonson," said I, in a tone of
self-humiliation.

"Never mind," replied the compassionate Job, "we are all born
ignorant--knowledge is not learnt in a day. A few of the most common and
necessary words in our St. Giles's Greek, I shall be able to teach you
before night; and I will, beforehand, prepare the old lady for seeing a
young hand in the profession. As I must disguise you before we go, and
that cannot well be done here, suppose you dine with me at my lodgings."

"I shall be too happy," said I, not a little surprised at the offer.

"I am in Charlotte-street, Bloomsbury, No.--. You must ask for me by
the name of Captain Douglas," said Job, with dignity, "and we'll dine at
five, in order to have time for your preliminary initiation."

"With all my heart," said I; and Mr. Job Jonson then rose, and reminding
me of my promise of secrecy, took his departure.

CHAPTER LXXXI.

Pectus praeceptis format amicis.--Horace.

Est quodam prodire tenus, si non datur ultra.--Horace.

With all my love of enterprise and adventure, I cannot say that I
should have particularly chosen the project before me for my evening's
amusement, had I been left solely to my own will; but Glanville's
situation forbade me to think of self, and so far from shrinking at the
danger to which I was about to be exposed, I looked forward with the
utmost impatience to the hour of rejoining Jonson.

There was yet a long time upon my hands before five o'clock; and the
thought of Ellen left me in no doubt how it should be passed. I went
to Ber