371

[Lett. xciv. Letters Historical and Galant. 371.]

means by his Chicanry, to make a Considerable fortune, which upon his death he left to a great Looby[?] of
a Son, pretty like Mr. Vivien of Cuckoldshall. An old Lawsuit, ready to be determined, and which the good
Man had by force of Interrogatories got carried to Paris, was comprehended in the Legacy, and was to
make up the greater part of it. The Father had recommended the Care of it to his Son, when he found
himself ready to undergo the Judgement of Minos, and his son, who had been bred to the Law, promised
to make neither Peace nor Truce with his Antagonists, but to carry on the Suit, while there was a Quirk
or a Quibble left in the Law. After paying the Last Duties to his father, he prepared to execute his last
will, and got ready to set out for Paris. He chose the fattest Capons he could find in his yard, bought
a calf, and provided some apples, for a present for the Judge that was to make report of his Cause. And
trussing up all his baggage, took a place in the Coach, and got ready to depart. He had a mistress in his
Neighbourhood, that his deceased father would never let him marry. She was in great hopes, when she saw
he was his own Master, but at the same time found she had several Rivals, for young Ladies were
put into this Young Heirs head by Dozens: however he fixed upon none of them, for an old friend of his
fathers, who had no daughters to marry, and would have been next to have seen any of his Neighbour's
daughters provided for, Hindered him from returning the tender Advances of his Mistress, or hearing
the Proposals that were made him elsewhere. "Don't play the fool with yr. self said he, Yr. Mistress has
"neither Money, nor Money's Worth, and the rest that are offered you are not much better: The Alliances you
"can make here, are good for nothing: you should look out for some that may be of Service to you, and therefore
"I think you could not do better than marry one of the Ladies of St. Cyr; they have not in reality more money
"than our Countrywomen; but they have Madam de Maintenon's Protection for a fortune, which is
"a very good one too I assure you; besides, they are all as Noble as the King, the Good Education they have
"inspires them with Sentiments conformable to their birth; You'll find in them, Youth and Beauty, for
"one that has any Blemish is refused Entrance into that illustrious house, and they are never let to
"grow old, so that in all respects you cannot do better, nor can I give you more wholesome Advice. Yr.
"father's Memory makes me interest my self in what relates to you, and you ought to follow the advice
"of a Sincere and dissinterested Friend--" They Young Attornery seemed to like it very well, and
began his journey with a design to follow it. He had a letter of Recommendation to Mr. Carnot, Secreta-
ry to Madam de Maintenon, who lives In the Suburbs of St. Germain, to whom this good friend had given the
Particulars of the Young Heir's fortune, which no doubt, was considerable enough to obtain one of the Ladies.
But he spoiled all by going to consult his Attorney upon it, who seeing he was a simpleton, and a fine Gander
to pluck, said to him. "Take Care, Sir, how you follow the Advice you have received: Leave the St. Cyr Ladies
"to those that having nothing but their Sword to trust to, seek to make their fortune, and obtain Employments in
"the Army or Revenue; You have nothing to do with either, having a good Estate already, which the gaining
"your Suit will encrease considerably, which ought to be the Only point you should have in view at pre-
"sent: Stick to that, and endeavour to Ally yr self to the Gentlemen of the Long Robe, that their favour may
"add to the Justice of yr. Cause. A thought comes into my head about it: the Judge that is to make Report
"of your Cause has a relation that he loves as much as if she was his Sister, and manages his house,
"Who knows but that he who knows the merit of yr. Cause, if he were told of yr. other fortune and merit,
"would give her to you? This would be the way to be revenged of yr. Antagonists at once, and set them
"all stark mad. ----- The Norman, being one of those who thinks that he that talks last talks best,
Swallowed the Cunning Attorney's bait without much difficulty. They went to visit the Judge together, and
carried him the present. The Magistrate, who had been before acquainted with the business by the Attor
ney, received the Client in the most engaging manner. The Relation made a little appearance in the
Closet, under pretence of carryign in Candles, and immediately dissappeared, after giving the fool an Op-
portunity of Admiring her Charms. The Attorney, gave him a hint, that that was the Lady in Question,
and finding that matters went on swimmingly, proposed the affair, after he had gotten before hand a Bond
from the Lady for a Sum of Money, for his trouble, which was to be paid him out of her future fortune, for she
had not a single penny her self. The Lady readily gave the bond to the Attorney, who coutned he would make
the poor fool pay the Piper. The Judge made some difficulties at first; but he consented at last at the Attorney's
Instances, and the Norman took care to add some of his own too, for he found himself deeply in love, and thought that
this Match would make him the happiest Man alive. In short, the affair was concluded and Consummated
the same night; For the blades were too Cunning not to strike whilst the Iron was hot. The Lovers were
conducted in Ceremony to a fine Damask bed, after that the priest of the Parish had pronounced the fatal
Ego conjungo. Twas very late before it was all over, and they began to take a little Refreshment from