 found that a Man had been robbed and very ill used by some Ruffians.
The wounded Man appeared very bloody, and seemed scarce able to support himself
on his Legs. As I had not therefore been deprived of my Humanity by my present
Life and Conversation, tho' they had left me very little of either Honesty or
Shame, I immediately offered my Assistance to the unhappy Person, who thankfully
accepted it, and putting himself under my Conduct, begged me to convey him to
some Tavern, where he might send for a Surgeon, being, as he said, faint with
Loss of Blood. He seemed indeed highly pleased at finding one who appeared in
the Dress of a Gentleman: For as to all the rest of the Company present, their
Outside was such that he could not wisely place any Confidence in them.
    I took the poor Man by the Arm, and led him to the Tavern where we kept our
Rendezvous, as it happened to be the nearest at Hand. A Surgeon happening
luckily to be in the House, immediately attended, and applied himself to
dressing his Wounds, which I had the Pleasure to hear were not likely to be
mortal.
    The Surgeon having very expeditiously and dextrously finished his Business,
began to enquire in what Part of the Town the wounded Man lodged; who answered,
That he was come to Town that very Morning; that his Horse was at an Inn in
Piccadilly, and that he had no other Lodging, and very little or no Acquaintance
in Town.
    This Surgeon, whose Name I have forgot, tho' I remember it began with an R,
had the first Character in his Profession, and was Serjeant-Surgeon to the King.
He had moreover many good Qualities, and was a very generous, good-natured Man,
and ready to do any Service to his Fellow-Creatures. He offered his Patient the
Use of his Chariot to carry him to his Inn, and at the same Time whispered in
his Ear, That if he wanted any Money, he would furnish him.
    The poor Man was not now capable of returning Thanks for this generous
Offer: For having had his Eyes for some Time stedfastly on me, he threw himself
back in his Chair, crying, O, my Son! my Son! and then fainted away.
    Many of the People present imagined this Accident had happened through his
Loss of Blood; but I, who at the same Time began to recollect the Features of my
Father, was now confirmed in my Suspicion, and satisfied that it was he himself
who appeared before me. I presently ran to him
