Part 15 (2/2)

In the afternoon he did not fail to visit his Aurelia; and all the protestations of their ed He now produced the letter which had caused such fatal disquiet in his bosom; and Miss Darnel no sooner eyed the paper, than she recollected it was a formal dismission, which she had intended and directed for Mr

Sycaly enclosed in another cover, addressed to Sir Launcelot Greaves, as now astonished beyond measure to see the mystery so easily unfolded The joy that now diffused itself in the hearts of our lovers, is ive a stability to this mutual satisfaction, it was necessary that Aurelia should be secured frouardianshi+p would not otherwise expire for so entered into their deliberations on the subject, it was agreed that Miss Darnel should have recourse to the protection of the Lord Chancellor; but such application was rendered unnecessary by the unexpected arrival of John Clu letter to Mrs Kawdle from the steward of Anthony Darnel, dated at Aurelia's house in the country:--

”MADAM,--It hath pleased God to afflict Mr Darnel with a severe stroke of the dead palsy--He was taken ill yesterday, and now lies insensible, see the papers in his pocket I found the enclosed, by which it appears thatlady, Miss Darnel, is confined in a private ment of God upon him for his cruelty to that excellent person I need not exhort you, madam, to take immediately upon the receipt of this, such e lady In the meantime, I shall do the needful for the preservation of her property in this place, and send you an account of any further alteration thatvery respectfully, madam, your most obedient humble servant, RALPH MATTOCKS”

Clus of love, and being covered with clay from the heels to the eyes upwards, he appeared in such an unfavourable light at Dr Kawdle's door, that the footman refused hiht his way upstairs into the dining-room, where the company was not a little astonished at such an apparition

The fellow hi Aurelia and his oeetheart Mrs Dolly Cowslip He forthwith fell upon his knees, and in silence held out the letter, which was taken by the doctor, and presented to his wife, according to the direction She did not fail to co unwelcome to the individuals who composed this little society Mr Clu lady, who commended hiratuity in the ain when he should be properly refreshed after the fatigue he had undergone

Mr Thoave it as his opinion, that Miss Darnel should, without delay, choose another guardian for the few months that remained of her minority The opinion was confirmed by the advice of some eminent lawyers, to who the person pitched upon for this office, the necessary forms were executed with all possible despatch

The first use the doctor n a power, constituting Mr Ralph Mattocks his attorney pro te the estate of Miss Aurelia Darnel; and this was forwarded to the steward by the hands of Cluh not without a heavy heart, occasioned by so the connexion between his dear Dolly and Mr Clarke, the lawyer

CHAPTER THE LAST

WHICH, IT IS TO BE HOPED, WILL BE, ON MORE ACCOUNTS THAN ONE, AGREEABLE TO THE READER

Sir Launcelot, having vindicated the liberty, confir Aurelia, now found leisure to unravel the conspiracy which had been executed against his person; and with that view coainst the owner of the house where he and his mistress had been separately confined Mr Shackle was, notwithstanding all the submissions and atonement which he offered to make, either in private or in public, indicted on the statute of kidnapping, tried, convicted, punished by a severe fine and standing in the pillory A judicial writ ad inquirendu executed, the prisons of his inquisition were laid open, and several innocent captives enlarged

In the course of Shackle's trial, it appeared that the knight's confinement was a sche to the device of his counsellor, Dawdle, who, by this contrivance, had reconciled hi deserted him in the day of battle Our hero was so incensed at this discovery of Sycaratitude, that he went in quest of hieance on his person, accompanied by Captain Croanted to balance accounts with Mr Dawdle But those gentle to the continent, on pretence of travelling for iht-errant as to leave Aurelia to the care of Providence, and pursue the traitors to the farthest extremities of the earth He practised a e, by instituting a process against them, which, after writs of capias, alias et pluries, had been repeated, subjected the thus deprived of the benefit of the law by their own neglect, would likewise have forfeited their goods and chattels to the King, had not they made such submissions as appeased the wrath of Sir Launcelot and Captain Crowe; then they ventured to return, and, by dint of interest, obtained a reversal of the outlawry But this grace they did not enjoy till long after our adventurer was happily established in life

While the knight waited impatiently for the expiration of Aurelia's minority, and in thefroences which the most unblemished virtue could bestow, Captain Crowe projected another plan of vengeance against the conjurer, whose lying oracles had cost hian to be tired of idleness, and undertook this adventure to keep his hand in use He in to Crabshaho had likewise suffered in spirit from the predictions of the said offender, and was extre the false prophet He now took it for granted that he should not be hanged for stealing a horse; and thought it very hard to pay so much money for a deceitful prophecy, which, in all likelihood, would never be fulfilled

Actuated by these ether for the house of consultation, but they found it shut up and abandoned; and, upon inquiry in the neighbourhood, learned that the conjurer had moved his quarters that very day on which the captain had recourse to his art This was actually the case He knew the fate of Sir Launcelot would soon coht, and he did not choose to wait the consequence He had otherHe had run a score at the public-house, which he had no e himself from his female associate, who knew too much of his affairs to be kept at a proper distance All these purposes he had answered by retreating softly, without beat of dru down prey for his devouring He had not, however, taken hisdiscovered his new lodgings, and, in revenge, gave information to the publican This creditor took out a writ accordingly, and the bailiff had just secured his person, as Captain Crowe and Timothy Crabshaw chanced to pass by the door in their way hoh an obscure street, near the Seven Dials

The conjurer having no subterfuge left, but a greatan explanation with the justice, like the man between the devil and the deep sea, of two evils chose the least; and beckoning to the captain, called him by his name Crowe, thus addressed, replied with a ”Hilloah!” and looking towards the place fronised the necro across the street, and, collaring Albumazar, exclaiht we should grapple one day--noill I bring you up by the head, though all the devils in hell were blowing abaft the beahly handled before, and at the same time assaulted behind by Crabshaho cried, ”Show ed now?” I say, the bailiff, fearing he should lose the benefit of his job, began to put on his contentious face, and, declaring the doctor was his prisoner, swore he could not surrender him without a warrant fro into the parlour, the conjurer desired to know of Crohether Sir Launcelot was found Being answered, ”Ey, ey, safe enough to see you made fast in the bilboes, brother”; he told the captain he had soe; and proposed that Crowe and Crabshaw should bail the action, which lay only for a debt of three pounds

Crowe storrinned at this modest proposal; but when they understood that they could only be bound for his appearance, and reflected that they need not part with him until his body should be surrendered unto justice, they consented to give bail; and the bond being executed, conveyed him directly to the house of our adventurer

The boisterous Crowe introduced him to Sir Launcelot with such an abrupt unconnected detail of his offence, as the knight could not understand without Timothy's annotations These were followed by so aside his black gown, and plucking off his white beard, exhibited to the astonished spectators the very individual countenance of the empirical politician Ferret, who had played our hero such a slippery trick after the electioneering adventure

”I perceive,” said he, ”you are preparing to expostulate, and upbraid ainst you to the country justice

I look upon mankind to be in a state of nature; a truth, which Hobbes has stuht to avail himself of his talents, even at the expense of his fellow-creatures; just as we see the fish, and other ani one another I found the justice but one degree re that he would commit some blunder in the execution of his office, which would lay him at your mercy, I contrived to make his folly the instrued to sign the inforeance for his tyranny and ied uise In the character of a conjurer, I was consulted by your follower, Crowe, and your squire, Crabshaw I did little or nothing but echo back the intelligence they brought ed; a prediction to which I found myself so irresistibly impelled, that I am persuaded it was the real effect of inspiration I am now arrested for a paltry sum of money, and, moreover, liable to be sent to Bridewell as an impostor; let those answer for my conduct whose cruelty and insolence have driven es I have been oppressed and persecuted by the govern truth; your omnipotent laws have reconciled contradictions That which is acknowledged to be truth in fact, is construed falsehood in law; and great reason we have to boast of a constitution founded on the basis of absurdity But, waiving these re to be either imprisoned for debt, or punished for ienerosity, and what is called benevolence--words to aain for your assistance It is in my power to put twelve thousand pounds in the pocket of Saoodwill, would hang me to the yard's arm”----

There he was interrupted by the sea thee! fish my top-masts! if the rope was fairly reeved, and the tackle sound, d'ye see”--Mr Clarke, as present, began to stare, while the knight assured Ferret, that if he was really able and willing to serve Captain Crowe in anything essential, he should be aed the debt, and assigned him an apartment in his own house That same day Crowe, by the advice of Sir Launcelot and his nephew, entered into conditional articles with the cynic, to allow him the interest of fifteen hundred pounds for life, provided by this means the captain should obtain possession of the estate of Hobby Hole in Yorkshi+re, which had belonged to his grandfather, and of which he was heir of blood

This bond being executed, Mr Ferret discovered that he hiet Maple, aunt to Sae; which, however, he convinced the the case, she, the said Bridget Maple, alias Ferret, was a covert femme, consequently could not transact any deed of alienation without his concurrence; ergo, the docking of the entail of the estate of Hobby Hole was illegal and of none effect This was a very agreeable declaration to the whole coratulate Captain Crowe on the prospect of his being restored to his inheritance Tom Clarke, in particular, protested, with tears in his eyes, that it gave him unspeakable joy; and his tears trickled the faster, when Croith an arch look, signified, that noas pretty well victualled for life, he had soe of matrimony

But that point of happiness to which, as the north pole, the course of these adventures hath been invariably directed, was still unattained; we mean, the indissoluble union of the acco Miss Darnel Our hero now discovered in his mistress a thousand charms, which hitherto he had no opportunity to conteood sense, and her virtue superior to both He found her untainted by that giddiness, vanity, and affectation, which distinguish the fashi+onable fee for diversion and dissipation; for noise, tuance He found her not only raised by understanding and taste far above the aar enius and refined reflection, so as to relish the more sublime enjoyour of mind which constitutes true fortitude, and vindicates the euise or dissienerous, and open; susceptible of thewith a keen sense of honour, andwith hu deeply affected by such attractions The nearer he approached the centre of happiness, the more did the velocity of his passion increase Her uncle still remained insensible as it were in the arht was inflaree of impatience He communicated his distress to Aurelia; he pressed her with the e the torture of his suspense He interested Mrs Kawdle in his behalf; and, at length, his iularly published, and the ceremony was performed in the parish church, in the presence of Dr Kawdle and his lady, Captain Crowe, Lawyer Clarke, and Mrs Dolly Cowslip