The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth PartHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth Part
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
Our Extravagant being Master of this Money, and knowing the difficulty
of getting more, was resolved to look out betimes. He was drinking with
some Friends at a Tavern neer the Exchange, _London_, and it being the
busie time of the day, Exchange time, several Companies were put into
one Room though at several Tables: He was not so busie in attending the
discourse of his own Company, but that he gave great attention to what
was said by that Company who sat at the next table. He soon understood
that their discourse was about Money; and that one of the Company
expected _Two Hundred Pounds_ to be paid him by and by. He hearing that
there was business of that consequence began to contrive within himself,
how he might be Master of some of it; many contrivances he had, and many
fancies ran in his brain, but none would do, none would take at present,
however he and his Company still drank on, and that so long that the
promised 200_l._ was brought thither and paid to the Person, who was
there ready to receive it. The Money being paid, he who was now Master
of it, delivers it to a servant that attended him, and ordered him to
carry it home, and deliver it to his Mistres, he further observed that
this Money was intended to be suddainly paid away again, for part of a
Ship, which he then agreed with one of the Company to buy of him; and
also he observed that the next day all the Company were to meet there
again to participate of a Collation that the Person who had received the
Money was to bestow on the rest. All these passages, and several others,
as their Names, and the qualities of most of the Persons there present,
he gained from the discourse he had heard. He being thus instructed was
resolved to try his wits to the utmost, and if possible be Master of
some of this Money, and that without the help, advice, or assistance of
any other. He beats his brains about it all that night, and the next day
making himself as spruce and fine as he could, and being laden with the
rich Cargoe of _Twenty pieces_ of _Gold_, and sufficient spending Money
besides, he sailed on to the _Exchange_, and there knowing several of
the Yesterdays Company both by sight and name, he soon found out the
Person who was to sell part of the Ship, and understanding that he was a
Sea-Captain, who wanted Owners, he bore up to him, and tels him that he
was willing to hold a part with him, whereupon the Captain invites him
to their intended Dinner, and he accepting the invitation, and being
come thither upon a farther discourse, he seemed pretty well content
with the bargain, and told the Captain that at the next days Exchange he
would resolve him about it. Their discourse being ended, Dinner was
called for but it not being yet ready, he who was the Invitor seemed to
be very angry for the delay, for said he, I commanded it to be ready
between _One_ and _Two_, and now by my _Watch_ it is between _Two_ and
_Three_, our Merchant seeing a _Watch_ drawn, said, I pray _Sir_ let me
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