eal my confusion, I was
fain to interrupt his detail, and damn the world for an envious
meddling community, that would not suffer a gentleman to live without
molestation. He took no notice of this apostrophe, but went on. "For my
own part, I neither know nor desire to know who or what you are. This
I am certain of, that few people make a mystery of their origin or
situation, who can boast of anything advantageous in either; and my
own opinion of the matter is that you have raised yourself, by your
industry, from nothing to the appearance you now maintain, and which you
endeavour to support by some matrimonial scheme." Here he fixed his eyes
steadfastly upon me and perceiving my face covered with blushes, told
me, how he was confirmed in his opinion. "Look ye, Random," said he, "I
have divined your plan, and am confident it will never succeed. You are
too honest and too ignorant of the town to practise the necessary cheats
of your profession, and detect the conspiracies that will be formed
against you. Besides, you are downright bashful. What the devil! set
up for a fortune hunter before you have conquered the sense of shame!
Perhaps you are entitled by your merit, and I believe you are, to a
richer and a better wife than Melinda; but take my word for it, she is
not to be won at that rate;--or, if you are so lucky as to carry her,
between you and me, you may say, as Teague said, By my soul, I have
gained a loss! She would take care to spend her fortune in a twinkling,
and soon make you sick of her extravagance."

I was alarmed by his discourse, while I resented the freedom of it, and
expressed my disgust by telling him, he was mistaken in my intentions,
and desiring he would give me leave to regulate my conduct according to
the dictates of my own reason. He made no apology for the liberty he
had taken, and ascribed it to the warmth of his friendship for me; as an
uncommon instance of which he borrowed five guineas, assuring me there
were very few people in the world who whom he could so far favour with
his confidence. I gave him the money, and professed myself so well
convinced of his sincerity, that he had no occasion to put it to such
extraordinary proofs for the future. "I thought," said he, "to have
asked five pieces more, but hearing you were bubbled of eighteen last
night, I presumed you might be out of cash, and resolved to model my
demand accordingly." I could not help admiring the cavalier behaviour
of this spar