The Bawd perceiving nothing more was to be got from him, resolv'd she wou'd be even with him, and take another Course to make a Penny of him: And thereupon goes the next Morning to the Goldsmith's Shop, and asks the Prentice if his Mistress was within; He answers, Yes, and she reply'd she must needs speak with her, who coming down, the Bawd Whispers her in the Ear, that she had something to acquaint her with, of great Importance to her; which was not fit to be discours'd of Publickly: And thereupon the Mistress ask'd her to walk up, and leading of her into a with-drawing Room, desir'd her to sit down, and then intreated her to tell her Business; upon which the Bawd began as followeth.
Madam.
Altho' I am a Stranger to you, I doubt not but you will excuse the rudeness of this Visit, when you shall know 'twas only the Concern I have to see a lady of your Worth and Beauty, so much Design'd upon and Trick'd, as you are like to be, that has occasion'd it: I Know therefore, Madam, that there's a Gentleman, who has been for some time a great Admirer of your Matchless Beauty, which truly does deserve all those Encomiums that I have often heard him justly give it. This Gentleman, under the Notion of a Customer, has made you many Visits: And has been pleas'd (I know not for what reason) to make me his Confident; of which I need give you no further Instant, then that he has acquainted me that but a few Days past he gave you fifty Guineas, for which by way of Gratitude, he was admitted to enjoy your last Favours:—Here the Young Lady interrupted her, all Blushing and Confus'd; Madam, you've fully satisfy'd me, said she, that that false man has let you know my Weakness, and most ungratefully expos'd my Honour, and betray'd me to the world.—Nay, Madam; said the Bawd, be not so passionate; I don't believe he has acquainted any with it, but myself. Nor let the thoughts of that at all disturb you; for, that's a Crime that I have known, for more than thirty-Years, the rest of all our Sex has scarce been free from. But that which more stirs up my Spleen against him, is for the Trick he designs to put upon you still; which is the only reason of my giving you this trouble. You will oblige me in it very much, reply'd the Goldsmith's Wife. Then this says the Bawd, it is. He understands your Husband is now out of Town; and will be so for Seven or Eight Days time. As soon as he comes home, your Gallant will be with you to appoint him a time in which he may again enjoy your Favour; which when he has enjoy'd, he does intend to tarry till your Husband shall come in, and then accquaint him that he has paid to him the fifty Guineas that he borrow'd of him on his Ring; and so desire that he may have his Ring again; which is the thing he aims at. For he well knows, that when you shall be askt whether or no you have receiv'd the 50 Guineas, your Honour is so far concern'd, you can't deny it. O Treach'rous Villian said the She Goldsmith, with some indignation, Is this the Generosity he so much boasted of? Yes, Madam, says the Bawd, this is what he designs to do; But I am so concerned to see a Lady of your Worth so basely and ingratefully impos'd upon, I could not but discover it: And if you wou'd be rul'd by me, you shou'd out-Trick the Fop, and catch him in the Snare he'd lay for you.—O I'd do any thing to be reveng'd on him, cry'd the young Lady with some eagerness: And do but tell me how, and Keep my Counsel, and I'll so well reward you for your Pains, that you shall say I'm grateful.—Then Madam, says the Bawd, as soon as your Husband comes to Town, before he comes to know of it, send one to tell him that you must needs speak with him about earnest Business, and when he's come, tell him that you expect your Husband the next day; and therefore beg the Favour of him to let you have his Company that Night, and as an Earnest of your Love to him, & that he should not think you mercenary, you'll both return him Fifty Guineas, and give him back the Ring he gave your Husband for a Pawn: And tell him likewise you have engag'd the Maid to Secresie; for which if he presents her with a Guinea, 'tis all he needs to do: This will, I'm sure engage him; for he's as Covetous as he is Lustful: And when he's thus engag'd, in the next place acquaint your Husband how you cou'd scarce have any quiet in his absence from this young Spark's continual Solicitations to unlawful Love. Then tell him that you have appointed him to come that Evening, of which you thought fit to acquaint him, that he might give him that Correction which he saw necessary, to cool his too hot Blood: This will so much confirm your Husband in his opinion of your inviolable Chastity, that all your Treacherous Gallant shall offer to the contrary will be look'd upon as the Effect of Malice and Revenge. Thus you'll confirm your Reputation to the World, and keep these Fifty Guineas he designs to cheat you out of, and be sufficiently reveng'd on an ungrateful Man.
Well (says the injur'd Gentlewoman) I'm pleas'd with your Contrivance; keep but my Counsel, and you shall see my Vengeance on this ungrateful Wretch, and with how just a Retribution I shall use him for his intended Villany. And that you may be sensible you have not lost your Labour, accept of this; and therewithal she put Ten Guineas in her hand, and promis'd her a further Token of her Gratitude: And so dismist her.—The Bawd was well pleas'd with the Mornings Work she'd made; and finding that the Goldsmith's Wife was like to be the better Customer, she hugg'd her self for her contrivance, and her Treachery to the Cully Beau.
That Afternoon the Wrathful Lady receiv'd a Letter from her Husband, that he intended to be in Town the Thursday following, and desir'd her to meet him that day at Hammersmith about noon, where he wou'd dine with her, and so come home together. She therefore sent a Messenger to tell her Treacherous Lover she must needs speak with him on Thursday Morning, for she had something of Moment to impart to him; who presently on the receiving of this Note, came to her, fearing there might be some Discovery of their Love-enjoyment.
As soon as he was come, she tells him she was extreamly Troubled she had not seen him since; and that she never had enjoy'd more pleasure than in his Embraces; and understanding that her Husband wou'd be at home on Friday Night, she had contriv'd things so, that he might freely, and without Interruption, lie with her on Thursday Night. Which she desir'd on the Account of that affection which she had for him, and of the Pleasure which she took in his Embraces; and that he might be satisfy'd 'twas so, she did engage the next Morning to present him with his Fifty Guineas, which, she was sorry that she had took of him: And as a further Testimony of it, if he could but procure things necessary for the picking of the Locks belonging to her Husbands Cabinet, she'd give him back the Diamond Ring he gave her Husband as a Pledge for fifty Guineas; and, as occasion offer'd, wou'd be very grateful to him otherways.
These Generous Offers overcame the Spark to all Intents and purposes; and he wou'd fain have been a dabling with her then; But she forbid him, and told him 'twas not at that time convenient, but she had order'd matters so, that when he came on Thursday-night, there shou'd be nothing that shou'd interrupt them. Telling him further, she had made the Maid acquainted with their Secrets, who was intirely in their Interests, and that it wou'd not be amiss to give her something as an Encouragement: And thereupon, calling the Maid to fetch a Bottle of Wine, he gave her half a Guinea, and told her, that was but an Earnest of that which he intended her to Morrow-night. And then drinking his Wine up, he gave his Mistress a Salute, and took his leave; she bidding him besure not to forget to bring the Picklocks with him, that she might help him to the Ring.
The Plot being thus laid, on Thursday-Morning, she prepares to meet her Husband; having before acquainted her Maid with her Design, who mightily commended both her Honesty and Ingenuity, for she knew nothing of what had before past between 'em.
Being come to Hammersmith, and meeting with her Husband there, she told him she had something to say to him privately that did as much concern his Honour as her own: And then, as they were walking together in the Garden she thus began to tell him her Design.
My Dear,