Even the go-between, Smythe, was identified as one James Worsdale, a painter, actor, and author, of the Bohemian variety.
Though Curll had fairly won the game, and Pope's intrigue was even at the time sufficiently exposed, it seems to have given less scandal than might have been expected.

Probably it was suspected only in literary circles, and perhaps it might be thought that, silly as was the elaborate device, the disreputable Curll was fair game for his natural enemy.

Indeed, such is the irony of fate, Pope won credit with simple people.

The effect of the publication, as Johnson tells us, was to fill the nation with praises of the admirable moral qualities revealed in Pope's letters.

Amongst the admirers was Ralph Allen, who had made a large fortune by farming the cross-posts.