k, of whom I desired to know his reason for saying I was
bubbled. He then gave me to understand, that before he came to my
lodgings, he had beat up Tom Tossle, who, being present, informed him of
the particulars, rehearsed all the fine things I said to Melinda, with
which he proposed to entertain the town, and among other circumstances,
assured him my mistress cheated with so little art, that nobody but a
mere novice could be imposed upon.

The thoughts of becoming a subject of raillery for coxcombs, and losing
my money to boot, stung me to the quick; but I made a virtue of my
indignation, and swore that no man should with impunity either asperse
the character of Melinda, or turn my behaviour into ridicule. He replied
in a dry manner, that I would find it a Herculean task to chastise
everybody who should laugh at my expense; and, as for the character
of Melinda, he did not see how it could suffer by what was laid to her
charge; for that cheating at cards, far from being reckoned a blemish
among people of fashion, was looked upon as an honourable indication of
superior genius and address. "But let us waive this subject," said he,
"and go to the coffee-house, in order to make a party for dinner."

CHAPTER XLVIII

We repair to the coffee-house, where we overhear a curious dispute
between Wagtail and Medlar, which is referred to our decision--the
Doctor gives an account of his experiment--Medlar is roasted by Banter
at the ordinary--the old gentleman's advice to me

Being as willing to drop the theme as he was to propose it, I
accompanied him thither, where we found Mr. Medlar and Dr. Wagtail
disputing upon the word Custard, which the physician affirmed should
be spelt with a G, observing that it was derived from the Latin
verb gustare, "to taste;" but Medlar pleaded custom in behalf of C,
observing, that, by the Doctor's rule, we ought to change pudding into
budding, because it is derived from the French word boudin; and in that
case why not retain the original orthography and pronunciation of all
the foreign words we have adopted, by which means our language would
become a dissonant jargon without standard or propriety? The controversy
was referred to us; and Banter, notwithstanding his real opinion to
the contrary, decided it in favour of Wagtail; upon which the peevish
annuitant arose, and uttering the monosyllable pish! with great
emphasis, removed to another table.

We then inquired of the doctor, what pr