the old banker, our heroine had so wheedled
the dotard, that he left her, to the surprise of the world, the whole of
his immense property, recommending only certain legacies, and leaving
an honourable and high-minded family dependent upon her bountiful
consideration. "I could relate some very extraordinary anecdotes arising
out of that circumstance," said Crony; "but you must be content with
one, farcical in the extreme, which fully displays the lady's affection
for her former profession, and shows she is a perfect mistress of stage
effect. On the removal of the shrivelled remains of the old dotard for
interment, his affectionate rib accompanied the ~313~~procession, and
when they rested for the night at an inn on the road, guarded them in
death as she had done in the close of life, by sleeping on a sofa in
the same room. Cruel, cruel separation! what a scene for the revival of
'grief a la mode!' "But she is unhappy with all her wealth," said the
cynic. "Careless as some portion of our nobility are in their choice
of companions for their sports or pleasures, they have yet too much
consideration left of what is due to their rank, their wives, and
daughters, not to hesitate before they receive----. But never mind,"
said Crony; "you know the rest. You must have heard of a recent calamity
which threatened the lady; and on which that mad wag, John Bull, let fly
some cutting jokes. A very sagacious police magistrate, accompanied by
one of his _indefatigables_, went to _inspect the premises_, accompanied
by a gentleman of the faculty; but, after all their united efforts to
unravel the mystery, it turned out a mere _scratch_, a very flat affair.

[Illustration: page313]

~314~~"I think," said Crony, "we have now arrived at the ultimatum of
the widow's history, and may as well take a turn or two up the Steyne,
to look out for other character. The ancient female you perceive yonder,
leaning on her tall gold-headed cane, is Miss J----s, a maid of honour
to the late Queen Charlotte, and the particular friend of Mrs. F----l:
said to be the only one left out of eight persons, who accompanied
two celebrated personages, many years since, in a stolen matrimonial
speculation to Calais.

She is as highly respected as her friend Mrs. F----l is beloved here."
"Who the deuce is that strange looking character yonder, enveloped in a
boat-cloak, and muffled up to the eyes with a black handkerchief?"
"That is a very important personage in a w