He avoided marriage and friendship; namely, he was neither plundered nor cornuted.

He was a tall, aristocratic cove, of a devilish neat address, and very gallant, in an honest way, to the blowens.

Like most single men, being very much the gentleman so far as money was concerned, he gave them plenty of "feeds," and from time to time a very agreeable hop.

His bingo [Brandy] was unexceptionable; and as for his stark-naked [Gin], it was voted the most brilliant thing in nature.

In a very short time, by his blows-out and his bachelorship,--for single men always arrive at the apex of haut ton more easily than married,--he became the very glass of fashion; and many were the tight apprentices, even at the west end of the town, who used to turn back in admiration of Bachelor Bill, when of a Sunday afternoon he drove down his varment gig to his snug little box on the borders of Turnham Green.