Mutantius having been appris'd, by a letter from Aristella, of the day in which she should come to town, went in his own coach as far as Greenwich to meet her, and conducted her to a very handsome and well furnish'd lodging, in one of the most airy and best streets near Bloomsbury-Square, where he had also provided a footman and maid-servant to attend her.

She was at first a little scrupulous of putting herself under his protection, till the sacred ceremony should have united her to him for ever: – he perceived the apprehensions she was under, and immediately relieved them by renewing his protestations, that the next morning should make his person as inviolably her's as his heart had been from the first moment he beheld her, and at the same time shew'd her a ring and marriage licence, which he had already prepar'd for that purpose.

He supp'd with her that evening, but when it was over very respectfully retir'd, to leave her to that repose which he judg'd necessary after the fatigue of her journey.

I come now to that part of the story which I had an opportunity of being both an eye and ear witness of: – I was acquainted with the gentlewoman of the house where Aristella was placed, and happen'd to call there on some business the very next morning after that young beauty had been brought thither.

My friend told me, among other discourse, that she had lett her lodgings at a very high rent; but was a little apprehensive that the person they were for was no better than a kept woman: – on my asking what ground she had for such a suspicion, she reply'd, – that she had lett her lodgings to a gentleman of fortune, call'd Mutantius, for the use of a lady whom he brought to take possession of them the night before, and that he had also hired servants to wait upon her, who she found knew as little of the person they were to serve as she did.