LETTER XXX MR. LOVELACE [IN CONTINUATION.]
Devilish hard (and yet I may thank myself) to be put to all this plague and trouble:--And for what dost thou ask?--O Jack, for a triumph of more value to me beforehand than an imperial crown!--Don't ask me the value of it a month hence. But what indeed is an imperial crown itself when a man is used to it?
Miss Howe might well be anxious about the letter she wrote. Her sweet friend, from what I have let pass of her's, has reason to rejoice in the thought that it fell not into my hands.
And now must all my contrivances be set at work, to intercept the expected letter from Miss Howe: which is, as I suppose, to direct her to a place of safety, and out of my knowledge. Mrs. Townsend is, no doubt, in this case, to smuggle her off: I hope the villain, as I am so frequently called between these two girls, will be able to manage this point.
But what, perhaps, thou askest, if the lady should take it into her head, by the connivance of Miss Rawlins, to quit this house privately in the night?
I have thought of this, Jack. Does not Will. lie in the house? And is not the widow Bevis my fast friend?