er swore that no
man would be more proud than he to run my errands. Encouraged by these
declarations, I ventured to express an inclination to be introduced to
their fathers, who were able to do my business at once. Swillpot frankly
owned he had not spoken to his father these three years; and Straddle
assured me, his father, having lately disobliged the minister by
subscribing his name to a protest in the house of peers, was thereby
rendered incapable of serving his friends at present; but he undertook
to make me acquainted with Earl Strutwell, who was hand and glove with
a certain person who ruled the roast. This offer I embraced with many
acknowledgments, and plied him so closely, in spite of a thousand
evasions, that he found himself under a necessity of keeping his word,
and actually carried me to the levee of this great man, where he left me
in a crowd of fellow-dependents, and was ushered to a particular closet
audience; from whence, in a few minutes, he returned with his lordship,
who took me by the hand, assured me he would do me all the service he
could, and desired to see me often. I was charmed with my reception,
and, although I had heard that a courtier's promise is not to be
depended upon, I thought I discovered so much sweetness of temper and
candour in this earl's countenance, that I did not doubt of finding
my account in his protection. I resolved therefore to profit by this
permission, and waited on him next audience day, when I was favoured
with a particular smile, squeeze of the hand, and a whisper, signifying
that he wanted half-an-hour's conversation with me in private, when he
should be disengaged, and for that purpose desired me to come and drink
a dish of chocolate with him to-morrow morning.

This invitation, which did not a little flatter my vanity and
expectation, I took care to observe, and went to his lordship's house at
the time appointed. Having rapped at the gate, the porter unbolted and
kept it half open, placing himself in the gap, like soldiers in the
broach, to dispute my passage. I asked if his lord was stirring? He
answered with a surly aspect, "No." "At what hour does he commonly
rise?" said I. "Sometimes sooner, sometimes later," said he, closing the
door upon me by degrees. I then told him I was come by his lordship's
own appointment, to which intimation this Cerberus replied, "I have
received no orders about the matter," and was upon the point of shutting
me out, when I recollect