hirsts for revenge
upon me) to assist him, with his whole ship's crew, upon occasion, to
carry off his sister to Leith, where both have houses, or elsewhere?

You may tell them, that if this can be effected, it will make me raving
mad; and bring your young lady into all their measures.

You can inform them, as from my servant, of the distance she keeps me
at, in hopes of procuring her father's forgiveness, by cruelly giving me
up, if insisted upon.

You can tell them, that as the only secret my servant has kept from you
is the place we are in, you make no doubt, that a two-guinea bribe will
bring that out, and also an information when I shall be at a distance
from her, that the enterprise may be conducted with safety.

You may tell them, (still as from my servant,) that we are about to
remove from inconvenient lodgings to others more convenient, (which is
true,) and that I must be often absent from her.

If they listen to your proposal, you will promote your interest with
Betty, by telling it to her as a secret. Betty will tell Arabella of
it; Arabella will be overjoyed at any thing that will help forward her
revenge upon me; and will reveal it (if her brother do not) to her uncle
Antony; he probably will whisper it to Mrs. Howe; she can keep nothing
from her daughter, though they are always jangling. Her daughter will
acquaint my beloved with it. And if it will not, or if it will, come to
my ears from some of those, you can write it to me, as in confidence, by
way of preventing msicheif; which is the study of us both.

I can then show it to my beloved; then will she be for placing a greater
confidence in me--that will convince me of her love, which I am now
sometimes ready to doubt. She will be for hastening to the safer
lodgings. I shall have a pretence to stay about her person, as a guard.
She will be convinced that there is no expectation to be had of a
reconciliation. You can give James Harlowe and Singleton continual false
scents, as I shall direct you; so that no mischief can possibly happen.

And what will be the happy, happy, thrice happy consequence?--The lady
will be mine in an honourable way, we shall all be friends in good time.
The two guineas will be an agreeable addition to the many gratuities I
have helped you to, by the like contrivances, from this stingy family.
Your reputation, both for head and heart, as I hinted before, will be
heightened. The Blue Boar also will be yours; nor shall you have