company.'
'I intreat you,' said the prisoner, 'give me another day. I shall take it as a great obligation; and you will disappoint me in the cruellest manner in the world if you refuse me.'
'I can't help people's disappointments,' cries the bailiff; 'I must consider myself and my own family. I know not where I shall be paid the money that's due already. I can't afford to keep prisoners at my own expense.'
'I don't intend it shall be at your expense' cries the philosopher; 'my wife is gone to raise money this morning; and I hope to pay you all I owe you at her arrival. But we intend to sup together to-night at your house; and, if you should remove me now, it would be the most barbarous disappointment to us both, and will make me the most miserable man alive.'
'Nay, for my part,' said the bailiff, 'I don't desire to do anything barbarous. I know how to treat gentlemen with civility as well as another. And when people pay as they go, and spend their money like gentlemen, I am sure nobody can accuse me of any incivility since I have been in the office. And if you intend to be merry to-night I am not the man that will prevent it. Though I say it, you may have as good a supper drest here as at any tavern in town.'
'Since Mr. Bondum is so kind, captain,' said the philosopher, 'I hope for the favour of your company. I assure you, if it ever be my fortune to go abroad into the world, I shall be proud of the honour of your acquaintance.'
'Indeed, sir,' cries Booth, 'it is an honour I shall be very ready to accept; but as for this evening, I cannot help saying I hope to be engaged in another place.'
'I promise you, sir,' answered the other, 'I shall rejoice at your liberty, though I am a loser by it.'
'Why, as to that matter,' cries Bondum with a sneer, 'I fancy, captain, you may engage yourself to the gentleman without any fear of breaking your word; for I am very much mistaken if we part to-day.'
'Pardon me, my good friend,' said Booth, 'but I expect my bail every minute.'
'Lookee, sir,' cries Bondum, 'I don't love to see gentlemen in an error. I shall not take the serjeant's bail; and as for the colonel, I have been with him myself this morning (for to be sure I love to do all I can for gentlemen), and he told me he could not possibly be here to-day; besides, why should I mince the matter? there is more stuff in the office.'
'What do you mean by stuff?' cries Booth.
'I mean that there is another writ,' answered the bailiff, 'at the suit of Mrs. Ellison, the gentlewoman that was here yesterday; and the attorney that was with her is concerned against you. Some officers would not tell you all this; but I loves to shew civility to gentlemen while they behave themselves as such. And I loves the gentlemen of the army in particular. I had like to have been in the army myself once; but I liked the commission I have better. Come, captain, let not your noble courage be cast down; what say you to a glass of white wine, or a tiff of punch, by way of whet?'
'I have told you, sir, I never drink in the morning,' cries Booth a little peevishly.
'No offence I hope, sir,' said the bailiff; 'I hope I have not treated you with any incivility. I don't ask any gentleman to call for liquor in my house if he doth not chuse it; nor I don't desire anybody to stay here longer than they have a mind to. Newgate, to be sure, is the place for all debtors that can't find bail. I knows what civility is, and I scorn to behave myself unbecoming a gentleman: but I'd have you consider that the twenty-four hours appointed by act of parliament are almost out; and so it is time to think of removing. As to bail, I would not have you flatter yourself; for I knows very well there are other things coming against you. Besides, the sum you are already charged with is very large, and I must see you in a place of safety. My house is no prison, though I lock up for a little time in it. Indeed, when gentlemen are gentlemen, and likely to find bail, I don't stand for a day or two; but I have a good nose at a bit of carrion, captain; I have not carried so much carrion to Newgate, without knowing the smell of it.'
