P–f–n, a French officer, whose appearance was such, that Mother D––s conceived hopes of making a good hand of him, happened one day to call on Mother D––s.

            She addressed him in his own language, though she spoke it but very indifferently. She promised him a fine girl of his own country; and to excite his desire the more, affured him, that she had refused her to a nobleman, who made a scruple to pay ten guineas for her maidenhead; "For may I never enter into the kingdom of heaven," said she, "but it is worth twenty." The officer thought the price was a little too high; so he beat her down to eight guineas.

            Mademoiselle was introduced; but how great was the surprise of the officer, when he discovered her to be his sister. They had both had many adventures; and the officer was what the French call Chevalier de l'Industrie.<137> So he suggested a scheme to his sister to rob Mother D––s. This was effected in the following manner:

            Mademoiselle, who knew where the old bawd deposited her cash, ran into her chamber about midnight, and alarmed her with an account of a fire just broke out in the house.

            Jane rose up in a hurry; and not caring to stay to strike a light, huddled on her clothes, and crawled up stairs, cursing and swearing, and calling to her maids, whom she damned for a parcel of lazy, good for nothing bitches.

            In the mean time Mademoiselle found means to secure her keys; and having opened her escritoire, took out the sum of fifty guineas, with which she and her brother made off; during the hurry and confusion into which this false alarm had thrown the whole house.

            In the next chapter the reader will find sufficient proofs of the Christian. patience with which Mother D––s bore such a cross accident.

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