[ 372 ]
ready, and so draw the poor ignorant Man in to play, and cheat him of his Money.
In like manner the Sharper here employs the Rook too, and who, in these Cases, is always a Woman. She is sure to get acquainted with the Lady; and, after some time, and getting into her Confidence, takes care to let the Lady know, that she understands that a certain Gentleman, who lodges in such a Place, is in Love with her; that the came to understand it by a very odd Accident; and then she tells her a formal Story, that being at such a Place visiting, and some Company coming in that were Strangers, they all sat down to drink Tea; that there was a young Gentleman, a pretty modest kind of Gentleman among them, which the Lady of the House call'd Cousin, and that accidentally rising up to make Room for more Company, the Gentleman, says the Spy, happened to be plac'd to sit next to me; upon which, says she, I push'd my Chair back to sit farther off.
But what do you mean, says the Lady, (perhaps willing enough to hear of the Thing) of being in Love with me, when he was a Stranger to you?
Law, my Dear, says she, I never saw the Gentleman before in my Life. But———
But what—What makes you talk such Stuff? says the Lady; still nettled with what she had said subtilly and slily before.
Well, he's a clever handsome Gentleman, that I must needs say; and so she passes it off, and talks of something else to see how the Lady would take it.
As the thought, so it was; the Lady was touch'd with the first Piece of the Tale, and stillkept
