himself being obliged
to attend the levee of my Lord Terrier at break of day, because his
lordship made one at the minister's between eight and nine o'clock. When
we came to Mr. Cringer's door, Strap, to give me all instance of his
politeness, ran to the knocker, which he employed so loud and so long,
that he alarmed the whole street; and a window opening in the
second story of the next house, a vessel was discharged upon him so
successfully, that the poor barber was wet to the skin, while I, being
luckily at some distance, escaped the unsavoury deluge. In the meantime,
a footman opening the door, and seeing nobody in the street but us,
asked, with a stern countenance, if it was I who made such a noise, and
what I wanted. I told him I had business with his master, whom I desired
to see. Upon which he slapped the door in my face, telling me I must
learn better manners before I could have access to his master. Vexed
at this disappointment, I turned my resentment against Strap, whom
I sharply reprimanded for his presumption; but he, not in the least
regarding what I said, wrung the wet out of his periwig, and lifting up
a large stone, flung it with such force against the street door of that
house from whence he had been bedewed, that the lock giving way, it
flew wide open, and he took to his heels, leaving me to follow him as I
could. Indeed, there was no time for deliberation; I therefore pursued
him with all the speed I could exert, until we found ourselves about
the dawn in a street we did not know. Here, as we wandered along gaping
about, a very decent sort of a man, passing by me, stopped of a sudden
and took up something, which having examined, he turned and presented to
me with these words: "Sir, you have dropped half-a-crown." I was not a
little surprised at this instance of honesty, and told him it did not
belong to me; but he bade me recollect, and see if all my money was
safe; upon which I pulled out my purse, for I had bought one since I
came to town, and, reckoning my money in my hand, which was now reduced
to five guineas seven shillings and twopence, assured him I had lost
nothing. "Well, then, says he, so much the better; this is a godsend,
and as you two were present when I picked it up, you are entitled to
equal shares with me." I was astonished at these words, and looked upon
this person to be a prodigy of integrity, but absolutely refused to take
any part of the sum. "Come, gentlemen," said he, "you are