 the terrors of expectation. In consequence of this
desertion, I received a letter from him, acknowledging that he was rightly
served, but that it gave him inexpressible concern.
    Mean while, lord -- continued to act in the character of a fiend, tormenting
me with his nauseous importunities: he prevailed upon the duke of L-- to employ
his influence in persuading me to live with him; assuring his grace, that I had
actually promised to give him that proof of my obedience, and that I would come
home the sooner for being pressed to compliance by a person of his rank and
character. Induced by these representations, the duke honoured me with a visit;
and in the course of his exhortations I understood how he had been thus
misinformed: upon which I sent for lord --, and in his presence convicted him of
the falshood, by communicating to his grace the articles of our last agreement,
which he did not think proper to deny; and the duke being undeceived, declared
that he would not have given me the trouble of vindicating myself, had he not
been misled by the insincerity of my lord.
    Baffled in this attempt, he engaged Mr. H- V-, and afterwards my own father,
in the same task; and tho' I still adhered to my first resolution, persisted
with such obstinacy in his endeavours to make me unhappy, that I determined to
leave the kingdom; and accordingly, after I had spent the evening with him at
Ranelagh, I went away about two o'clock in the morning, leaving my companion,
with directions to restore to my lord his house, furniture, plate, and every
thing he had given me since our last accommodation; so far was I, upon this
occasion, or at any other time of my life, from embezzling any part of his
fortune. My friend followed my instructions most punctually; and his lordship
knows, and will acknowledge, the truth of this assertion.
    Thus have I explained the true cause of my first expedition to Flanders,
whither the world was good-natured enough to say I followed Mr. B-- and the
whole army, which happened to be sent abroad that summer. Before my departure I
likewise transmitted to lord B- the dressing-plate, china, and a very
considerable settlement, of which he had been generous enough to make me a
present. This was an instance of my integrity, which I thought due to a man who
had laid me under great obligations; and tho' I have lived to be refused a small
sum both by him and S
