His mother had been laundress to a man of quality, and thus he early acquired a taste for pimping and pedigree.

As this gentleman made it the study of his life to be acquainted with lords, though he was dismissed from several for his stupidity; yet he found many of them who were as dull as himself, that permitted his assiduities.

As flattery was his trade, he practised it with the easiest address imaginable; but it came aukward and stiff from me; and as every day my patron's desire of flattery encreased, so every hour being better acquainted with his defects, I became more unwilling to give it.

Thus I was once more fairly going to give up the field to the captain, when my friend found occasion for my assistance.

This was nothing less than to fight a duel for him, with a gentleman whose sister it was pretended he had used ill.