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hast got the heels of my at last. No less than a fine jolly dame. as plump as a partridge. She has a well furnished house a brisk trade, and a good deal of the ready. I may have her for the asking. She told a friend of mine, a brother footman, that she would take me out of a stinking clout; but refused to give my final answer till I knew your opinion in the matter. I congratulated Mr. D'Estrapes upon his conquest and approved of the scheme. At breakfast, he introduced his inamorato to my acquaintance. She was a short thick woman, about the age of thirty-six and had a particular prominency of belly, which I perceived at first sight, not without some suspicion of foul play. I made no mystery of my apprehension to Strap; at which he was not surprised. he having observed the same symptom. In less than a fortnight my prediction was verified; her being delivered of a child, to the unspeakable amazement of Strap. His false friend disappeared, and in a few days after, an execution was issued against her goods and household furniture, which were seized by the creditors.
Meanwhile I met with my old acquaintance Banter and in the evening went to the opera with him and Mr. Chatter who pointed out Melinda in one of the boxes, and offered to introduce me to her, observing at the same time, that she was a reigning toast worth ten thousand pounds, and assured me I should
