is female acquaintance Miss Tavistock was kindly
welcomed, and received into her house; but Miss Tavistock's prospects
having altered, so had all her devoted attachments to the friend of her
early years. She wrote, announcing her intended change of condition,
and regretting that Dr Plausible's affairs, requiring his immediate
presence in England, would prevent her having the delight of embracing
one, who was so entwined round her heart. The letter was nevertheless
very cold, and Miss Tavistock was very much abused by her dearest
friend, who, disappointed in her expectations, did not even condescend
an answer. In a week Miss Tavistock was united to Dr Plausible, and in
less than a fortnight afterwards they were on their passage home. Dr
Plausible found that his wife's report of her circumstances was correct,
and that now he had the means of keeping his carriage and of seeing
company in moderation. Shortly after their return Dr Plausible took
the lease of a house in a betwixt and between fashionable street, and
not wishing to remain idle, attempted to get into practice as an
accoucheur; for although the fortune brought by his wife was
considerable, still, to keep his carriage in London, he was obliged "to
sail nearer to the wind," in other points than he found agreeable:
moreover he was ambitious. A night-bell, with "night-bell" in capital
letters over it, that people might be aware in the broad day that it was
a night-bell, which of course they could not read in the dark, was
attached to one side of the street door. It was as loud as an
alarum-bell, and when rung, was to be heard from Number 12 to Number 44,
in the street where Dr Plausible resided.

There are little secrets in all trades; and one is, how to obtain
practice as a medical man, which whole mystery consists in making people
believe that you have a great deal. When this is credited, practice
immediately follows; and Dr Plausible was aware of the fact. At first
setting off the carriage drew up to the door occasionally, and stood
there for some time, when the doctor made his appearance, and stepped
in. He then took a round of about three hours through every fashionable
part of the town, sitting well forward, that every body might see him,
apparently examining his visiting-book. At times he would pull up at
some distinguished person's door, where were two or three carriages
before him, and getting out, would go in to the porter to ask some
frivolous q