Volume V Part 72 (1/2)

I took the bill and saw some millions mentioned on it, which astonished h that the currency was Portuguese milries, and that they anatures are known,” said I, ”I don't understand why the man won't discount it Why don't you take it to your banker?”

”I haven't got one I caold pieces in ot any letters of credit I cannot pay you unless the bill is discounted If you have got any friends on the Exchange, however, you could get it done”

”If the naood ones I will let you have the ”

”Then I will make it payable to your order”

He put his name to it, and I promised to send him either the ave ed me to come and dine with him, and so we parted

The next day I went to Bosanquet, who told e on Cadiz, and I accordingly waited on hiold to hiuineas, of course after I had endorsed it

I called on the baron and gave hiave uineas Afterwards we had dinner, and fell to talking of his mistress

”Are you in love with her?” said I

”No; I have plenty of others, and if you like her you can have her for ten guineas”

I liked this way of putting it, though I had not the slightest idea of cheating the girl out of the su the baron I went to see her, and as soon as she heard that the baron had paid ht that obliterated all , when I handed over the fifty guineas, she said that as a reward for the way in which I kept my prouineas I pro I received a letter through the post, written in bad Italian, and signed, ”Your obedient Godson, Daturi” This Godson of ive hi particular to do, the appellation of Godson made me curious, and so I went to the prison to see Daturi, of whose identity I had not the slightest idea He was a fine young ave hiive him he drew a paper from his pocket and shewed me his certificate of baptism, on which I saw my own name inscribed beside his name and those of his father and mother, the parish of Venice, where he was born, and the church in which he was baptized; but still I racked my memory in vain; I could not recollect him

”If you will listen to ht; my mother has told me the story a hundred times”

”Go on,” said I, ”I will listen;” and as he told his story I re man whom I had held at the font as the son of the actor Daturi was possibly lers to play the illustrious part of clown, or pagliazzo, but having quarrelled with the coot into debt to the extent of ten pounds sterling, and for this debt he had been i to him about my relations with hishiive his a day for his support

A week after I had done this good work I felt that I had caught the fearful disease from which the God Mercury had already delivered er and peril of lish woman, and the misfortune was doubly inconvenient under the circuh Venus may have risen from the waves of the sea, sea air is by no n aspect I knehat to do, and resolved to have my case taken in hand without delay

I left lish woood surgeon, horeement to stay in his house till my cure was co to leave London, excepting my linen, which I sent to my washerwoman who lived at a distance of six reat trade

The very day Ia letter was handed to h, and ran as follows:

”The bill of exchange I discounted for you is a forgery, so please to send uineas; and if the man who has cheated you will not reimburse the money, have him arrested For Heaven's sake do not force me to have you arrested to-morrow, and whatever you domatter”

Fortunately I was by myself when I received the letter I fell upon my bed, and in a moment I was covered with a cold sweat, while I treallows before me, for nobody would lend me the money, and they would not wait forfit succeeded a burning fever I loadedout Baron Stenau's brains, or putting hiive me the money I reached his house, and was inforo

This Baron Stenau was a Livonian, and four ed at Lisbon I only anticipate this little event in his life because I a