Having received
particular injunctions about the letter, he resolved to make that
the chief object of his care, and very sagaciously conveyed it
between the stocking and the sole of his foot, where he thought
it would be perfectly secure from all injury or accident. Here it
remained until he arrived at the inn where he had formerly lodged,
when, after having refreshed himself with a draught of beer, he
pulled off his stocking, and found the poor billet sullied with
dust, and torn in a thousand tatters by the motion of his foot in
walking the last two miles of his journey. Thunderstruck at this
phenomenon, he uttered it loud whew! which was succeeded by an
exclamation of "D-- my old shoes! a bite by G--!" then he rested
his elbows on the table, and his forehead upon his two fists, and
in that attitude deliberated with himself upon the means of remedying
this misfortune.
As he was not distracted by a vast number of ideas he soon concluded
that his best expedient would be to employ the clerk of the parish,
who he knew was a great scholar, to write another epistle according
to the directions he should give him; and never dreaming that the
mangled original would in the least facilitate this scheme, he very
wisely committed it to the flames, that it might never rise up in
judgment against him.
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