re Roderique! you have more of de veracite dan of de prudence--bot
mine vife and dater be diablement sage, and Monsieur le Capitaine un
fanfaron, pardieu!"
This eulogium on his wife and daughter, though spoken ironically by him,
was nevertheless literally just; by espousing the cause of Gawky, the
one obliged a valuable lodger, and the other acquired a husband at a
juncture when one was absolutely necessary. The young lady insinuated
herself so artfully into the affection of this new lodger, that in less
than a fortnight, on pretence of going to the play, they drove away
together to the Fleet, where they were married; and in the morning came
home, where they asked her father's and mother's blessing. The prudent
parents, notwithstanding the precipitation with which the match was
carried on, did not think fit to refuse their approbation; for the
apothecary was not ill pleased to find his daughter married to a young
man of a good prospect, who had not mentioned one syllable on the
article of her dowry; and his wife was rejoiced at being rid of a rival
and a spy upon her. Whatever face Gawky put on the matter, my discovery
of the adventure before related, and the reproaches I vented against
him, had stung him to the soul, and cherished the seeds of enmity so
strongly in his breast, that he imparted his indignation to his wife,
who being as desirous as himself to accomplish the ruin of one that not
only slighted her caresses, but was able on any occasion to discover
particulars not at all advantageous to her character, readily joined in
a conspiracy against me, which (had it taken effect as they expected)
would infallibly have brought me to an ignominious death.
My master having several times missed large quantities of medicines, of
which I could give no account, at last lost all patience, and in plain
terms taxed me with having embezzled them for my own use. As I could
only oppose my single asseveration to his suspicion, he told me one
day, "Your vord not be give me de satisfaction--me find necessaire to
chercher for my medicine; pardonnez moi--il faut chercber--me demand le
clef of your coffre a cette heure." Then raising his voice to conceal
the fright he was in lest I should make any opposition, he went on,
"Oui! I charge you rendez le clef of your cofrre--moi--si, moi qui
vous parle." I was fired with so much resentment and disdain at this
accusation, that I burst into tears, which he took for a sign of guilt;
and pu
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