, and wishes me joy --
introduces a conversation about Petronius Arbiter -- falls in love with my
watch, which I press upon him - I make a present of a diamond ring to lord
Straddle -- impart my good fortune to Strap and Banter, who disabuses me, to my
utter mortification
 
Baffled hitherto in my matrimonial schemes, I began to question my talents for
the science of fortune-hunting, and to bend my thoughts towards some employment
under the government. - With the view of procuring which, I cultivated the
acquaintance of Lords Straddle and Swillpot, whose fathers were men of interest
at court. - I found these young noblemen as open to my advances as I could
desire: I accompanied them in their midnight rambles, and often dined with them
at taverns, where I had the honour of paying the reckoning.
    I one day took the opportunity, while I was loaded with protestations of
friendship, to disclose my desire of being settled in some sine-cure; and to
solicit their influence in my behalf. - Swillpot squeezing my hand, said, I
might depend upon his service, by G-d. The other swore that no man would be more
proud than he to run my errands. Encouraged by these declarations I ventured to
express an inclination to be introduced to their fathers, who were able to do my
business at once. Swillpot frankly owned he had not spoke to his father these
three years; and Straddle assured me his father having lately disobliged the
Minister by subscribing his name to a protest in the house of peers, was thereby
rendered incapable of serving his friends at present; but he undertook to make
me acquainted with Earl Strutwell, who was hand and glove with a certain person
that ruled the roast. This offer I embraced with many acknowledgments, and plied
him so closely, in spite of a thousand evasions, that he found himself under a
necessity of keeping his word, and actually carried me to the levée of this
great man, where he left me in a crowd of fellow-dependants, and was ushered to
a particular closet audience; from whence in a few minutes, he returned with his
lordship, who took me by the hand, assured me he would do me all the service he
could, and desired to see me often. - I was charmed with my reception, and
although I had heard that a courtier's promise is not to be depended upon, I
thought I discovered so much sweetness of temper and candour in this Earl's
countenance, that I did not doubt of profiting by his protection. - I resolved
therefore
