When I had read the Letter, I was almost as much to seek as I was
before, because it was directed to one who was a Servant to the Mercer,
but upon second thoughts I concluded, that although it was directed to
the Maid, yet it might be intended to the Mistress, as indeed it was; I
having read the Letter, melted some wax and sealed it again, the
impression of the old Seal remaining as fair as formerly. My Boy who
brought it me, asked if he should carry it again; I first, before I
answered him, enquired of him how he came by it? he told me thus, that
the other boy told him he had Letters to carry for his Master; and
therefore, said he if you will go to the River and wash, I have, said he
a good excuse; I (said my boy) told him that I would go with him if he
would go strait, then to the River; he replyed, he was commanded to
carry the Letter first, but I perswaded him to go first to the River, to
the end that I might serve you in what you commanded, and therefore
being come to the water, I did not make so much hast as he, but let him
go to in, so soon as he was in the water, I searching his pockets, and
finding this Letter came with all speed and told the other boys that
were there, that I would go in at a place a little further, and swim
down to them; and so, Sir, said he to me, I made all possible haste, and
have here brought the Letter; I having heard his Tale, commanded him to
run with all expedition, and put the Letter into the boyes pocket, he
did so, and was not at all discovered, or suspected. I having thus
gained some knowledge in my friends amours and being desirous to
discover more, walked out to the Street where the Mercer dwelt, where I
saw both man and wife in the Shop, there was much disparity in their
years, for he seemed to be seventy, and she not above twenty four, I
presently guessed that this must be she, and therefore pretending to
buy, I went into the Shop, where I was shewed several Stuffs by her, he
sitting at the further end of the shop coughing by himself; she had such
a winning way in perswading me to the goodness and cheapness of the
Stuff, that although I had no intention to buy, yet I laid out some
money with her, she was perfectly handsome, and it had been great pity
if she had onely been tyed to that old Carcass, but I knew that she had
a friend who could do her business for her, and all that I then wished,
was that I might be in his place, and take his turn; and this I was
resolved to do, or stretch my wit on the tenters of invention.
The next day my Boy brought me another Letter, which was from my
Companions Unkle, and I having opened that as I had done the former,
found that his Unkle was sick, but however intended to be in _Paris_ in
few days, and then he would supply him with the money he desired; I
closed the Letter again, and the boy conveyed it to the place where he
had it, _viz._ the other boys pocket, who gave it to his Master two
hours after when he returned home, being for the present gone out; by
this Letter I understood that he had his maintenance from his Unkle, and
that he had lately written for some, and that this was the answer: I
took exact notice of his Unkles name, and writ it down in my Table book;
I being desirous to discover from himself what I partly knew already, to
that end I walked out with him, and engaged him to go into that Street
where the Mercer dwelt, but although we did so, and I then curiously
observed him, yet he did not so much as cast an eye into the Shop,
although the Woman and her Husband were both there, but I remember
turning down by that Shop into a blind Lane, he looked towards a
back-door, which I then perceived was belonging to that house, and which
I guessed might be the way whereby he went to his Mistress.
I having made all these inspections into the matter in hand, was
resolved to make some further use of my experience. When about ten days
after my boy came sweating to me, and told me that he had gotten another
Letter, which the other boy received in his Masters absence, who would
not be back in two hours, but then he must deliver it to him; who
brought it? said I, a Porter: said the Boy; I hearing this had a mind to
have delivered it back again without opening, because I did suppose it
came only from his Unkle, or some other Friend, about some ordinary
affairs, not judging that a Letter of Love would be sent by an ordinary
Porter; I was in this determination, which had I followed I should have
thought my self very unfortunate, but a curiosity possessing me, I
resolved to see the Contents, wherefore using my former way of heating
my Knife, I opened the Letter and therein found these Lines:
My dear Friend,
I _hope at your last visit I gave you satisfaction in every thing,
especially why I had not seen you for fourteen days before, I must
confess it was a long time of absence and you may assure your self that
I thought it so as well as you, I also hope that you have no suspition
of my constancy, and that you may assure your self of my love to you, I
have provided the hundred Crowns you desired, if you come on Thursday
night about eleven of the Clock to our Back door, our trusty Servant
will let you in, and conduct you to a Chamber, where I will attend you,
but I must engage you not to speak to me, for I am in great fear of your
being over-heard, by my Husbands Kinswoman, who lies the next wall to
me, and is very curious over me; follow these directions and you shall
engage_,
_Your constant Friend_,
M. L.
How much was I surpriz’d in the reading of this Letter, you may easily
judge, but you may be sure I was resolved not to part from it, but now I
concluded I might put my Design in practice; I had not long consulted
with my self what to do, but I had resolved my self in all doubts and
scruples; and therefore taking Pen, Ink and Paper, I writ this following
Letter:
Sir,
Y_our Unkle, according to his intentions of coming to_ Paris, _was come
so far as my house, but was there taken so sick, that he could not,
neither is he able at present to proceed in his Journey, and doubting
that he will be worse, hath ordered me to send to you that you may be
acquainted with it, and withal, that you may come to him, he not being
able to come to you, therefore expects you here with all the expedition
you can make, this is all at present from_
_Your loving Friend,_
_though unknown_,