Upon this, not doubting but they wou’d keep his Counsel, he told ’em ’twas I that help’d him, upon such occasions; and one of these Gentlemen told another of his Comrades in the hearing of the Disguis’d Constable, who made that use of it I have already told you.  But now, to prevent the like accidents, we admit no Strangers, unless they bring a Letter from the Person they are Recommended by, and therein an Account of the last time they were here.  By which means we are very secure; and tho’ the Society for Reformation, as they call it, does utterly Ruine all such as are Publick Houses of Assignation, yet our Trade is rather made the better by it; because here they may meet without Danger of being Exposed, as a Worthy Gentlewoman had like to have been not long ago, which might have been her Ruine, had she not fallen into the hands of Gentlemen.

Pray how was that, said the Goldsmith’s Lady?

It is a Story worth your hearing, reply’d the Bawd; and if you please I’ll give you the Relation of it, as I had it from one of the Gentlemen concern’d therein. You will Oblige me very much; answer’d the Lady.  Whereupon the Bawd thus began.

It happened that two Gentlemen belonging to the Army (of which the one was my Particular Acquaintance, and a good Customer to my House) taking Water at the Still-yard, was minded to divert themselves upon the River, by going up to Chelsie-Reach; where they sometimes met with pretty Ladies proper for their Purpose, But as they were going along, they perceived a very fine Gentlewoman in a rich Garb, in a Sculler, all alone; and also observed that she made the Sculler, who was a good likely Young Man, row her sometimes one way, and sometimes another, without going to any certain Place.  This gave ’em occasion to Conjecture that she had appointed some Spark or other to meet her thereabouts, whose coming she expected with some Impatience; as they easily perceiv’d: 

  For that which frets a Woman most,
  Is when her Expectation’s crost.

After she had near half hour in that manner fluctuated to and fro upon the silver Surges of Thamesis, like one of the Nereides, and found she was disappointed; she bid the Sculler Land her at the Three Cranes, which he accordingly did; and the Gentlemen likewise order’d their Oars to Land ’em at the same Place; and observ’d, after the Lady was Landed, that the Sculler ask’d for his Money, and she bid him follow her; and after he follow’d her into Thames-street, he began to grumble, and told her he cou’d go no further, and therefore he wou’d have his Money; which she wou’d not give him whithout he went wither she was going, telling him she wou’d pay him for his time.  This made the Gentlemen dog her, and soon after saw her go into the Three-Cranes Tavern, and the Sculler after her; which the Gentlemen seeing, and (being resolv’d to