 gave up a
Cause which she had hitherto maintained with so many Tears, and with such solemn
and vehement Protestations of the purest Love and Constancy.
    As to the Gentleman behind the Arras, he was not in much less Consternation.
He stood for a while motionless, and seemed equally at a Loss what to say, or
whither to direct his Eyes. Jones, tho' perhaps the most astonished of the
three, first found his Tongue; and, being immediately recovered from those
uneasy Sensations, which Molly by her Upbraidings had occasioned, he burst into
a loud Laughter, and then saluting Mr. Square, advanced to take him by the Hand,
and to relieve him from his Place of Confinement.
    Square, being now arrived in the Middle of the Room, in which Part only he
could stand upright, looked at Jones with a very grave Countenance, and said to
him, »Well, Sir, I see you enjoy this mighty Discovery, and, I dare swear, taste
great Delight in the Thoughts of exposing me; but if you will consider the
Matter fairly, you will find you are yourself only to blame. I am not guilty of
corrupting Innocence. I have done nothing for which that Part of the World which
judges of Matters by the Rule of Right will condemn me. Fitness is governed by
the Nature of Things, and not by Customs, Forms, or municipal Laws. Nothing is,
indeed, unfit which is not unnatural.« »Well reasoned, old Boy,« answered Jones;
»but why dost thou think I should desire to expose thee? I promise thee, I was
never better pleased with thee in my Life; and unless thou hast a Mind to
discover it thyself, this Affair may remain a profound Secret for me.« »Nay, Mr.
Jones,« replied Square, »I would not be thought to undervalue Reputation. Good
Fame is a Species of the KALON and it is by no Means fitting to neglect it.
Besides to murder one's own Reputation, is a kind of Suicide, a detestable and
odious Vice. If you think proper, therefore, to conceal any Infirmity of mine;
(for such I may have, since no Man is perfectly perfect) I promise you I will
not betray myself. Things may be fitting to be done, which are not fitting to be
boasted of; for by the perverse Judgment of the World, That often becomes the
Subject of Censure, which is, in Truth, not only innocent but laudable.«
»Right!« cries Jones, »what can be more
