I'll bet you ten to one, &longs;aid a noted gambler to
another;—they were walking arm in arm—I'll bet
you ten to one I am married before this day fortnight.—
You are a lucky dog, Cogdie, replied his

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companion, to obtain &longs;o lovely a woman as Meli&longs;&longs;a,
and twenty thou&longs;and pounds into the bargain.

D—n the woman, &longs;aid the wretch, it is money I
want: by Heavens I have not five guineas left in the
world, and am twice as many hundred in debt. If
I do not &longs;ucceed in this matrimonial &longs;cheme, I &longs;hall
go to limbo.—There's an old prying cat of a maiden
aunt &longs;tands devili&longs;hly in the way, or I could ea&longs;ily
dupe the old dad.—As to Meli&longs;&longs;a her&longs;elf, &longs;he's &longs;uch
a mere &longs;impleton in the ways of the world, that it
requires but a &longs;mall &longs;hare of art to make her believe
almo&longs;t any thing.

By this time they had reached the hou&longs;e of the
intended victim, when finding my ring had the desired
effect, I entered the hou&longs;e with her betrayer.
His companion wi&longs;hed him good morning, and I,
without he&longs;itation, followed him up &longs;tairs.