much, that he might be guided by his own judgment,
and not follow the bent of his inclination, if he thought
it might be prejudicial to his interest; and by the
way of a little return for the hospitable manner in
which he had received and entertained me, and my family,
I took out an hundred and twenty-five pound in Banknotes,
and desired him to send them to England; adding, that
I had about thirty pounds in my pocket, which I hoped
would be sufficient for my expences, till he had an
account of their safe arrival. But instead of
his wonted chearful countenance, I was
contunded
with an affected air of the man of business; my bank
notes were shined against the window, turned and twisted
about, as if the utmost use they could be of were
to light the Consul’s pipe after supper.
I asked him whether he had any doubts of their authenticity;
and shewed him a letter to confirm my being the person
I said I was, written to me but a short time before,
from his friend Lord Rochford, from whom he too had
just received a letter: he then observed; that
a burnt child dreads the fire; that their House had
suffered; that a Moor had lately passed thro’
France, who had put off a great number of false Bank
notes, and that I might indiscreetly have taken some
of them; but assuring him that I had received all
mine from the hands of Messrs. Hoare, and that I would
not call upon him for the money till he had received
advice of their being good, I took my leave, and left
my notes.
But as there was a possibility, nay, a probability,
that Mr. Curtoys might not have very early advice
from England, or might not give it to me if he had,
(for all his hospitality of countenance and civility
was departed) I thought it was necessary to secure
a retreat; for I should have informed you, that I
found at his table a Mr. Wombwell, whose uncle I had
lived in great intimacy with many years before at Gibraltar,
and who left this man (now a Spanish merchant) all
his fortune. Indeed, I should have said, that
Mr. Wombwell had visited me, and even had asked me
to dine with him; and as he appeared infinitely superior
both in understanding, address, and knowledge of the
world to good Mr. Curtoys, I went to him, with that
confidence which a good note, and a good cause, gives
to every man. I told him the Consul’s fears,
and my own, lest I might want money before Mr. Curtoys
was ready to supply me; in which case, and which only,
I asked Mr. Wombwell if he would change me a twenty
pound Bank note, and shewed him one which I then took
out of my pocket; but Mr. Wombwell too examined my
notes, with all the attention of a cautious tradesman,
and put on all that imperiousness which riches, and
the haughty Spanish manners to an humble suitor, could
suggest. I tell you, my dear Sir, what passed
between us, more out of pity than resentment towards
him; he said I will recollect it as nearly as I can,
“that if you are Mr. Thicknesse, you must have
lived a great deal in the world; it is therefore unfortunate,
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