Page:Paul Clifford Vol 2.djvu/123

"Gentlemen!" said the Captain, "I will now, with your leave, impart to you all the plans I have formed for each. You, Attie, shall repair to London: be the Windsor road and the purlieus of Pimlico your especial care. Look you, my Hero, to these letters, they will apprise you of much work; I need not caution you to silence. Like the oyster, you never open your mouth but for something.—Honest Old Bags, a rich grazier will be in Smithfield on Thursday, his name is Hodges, and he will have somewhat like a thousand pounds in his pouch. He is green, fresh, and avaricious; offer to assist him in defrauding his neighbours in a bargain, and cease not till thou hast done that with him which he wished to do to others. Be—excellent old man!—like the frog-fish which fishes for other fishes with two horns that resemble baits, the prey dart at the horns, and are down the throat in an instant!—For thee, dearest Jem, these letters announce a prize:—fat is Parson Pliant; full is his purse; and he rides from Henley to Oxford on Friday—I