"That is to say," cried
the client, in the impatience of his mortification at this answer,
"bating accidents; for, thank God, the annuitant does not lead the
most regular life. Besides, I am credibly informed he is choleric
and rash, so that he may be concerned in a duel. Then there are
such things as riots in the street, in which a rake's skull may be
casually cracked; he may be overturned in a coach, overset in the
river, thrown from a vicious horse, overtaken with a cold, endangered
by a surfeit; but what I place my chief confidence in, is an hearty
pox, a distemper which hath been fatal to his whole family. Not
but that the issue of all these things is uncertain, and expedients
might be found which would more effectually answer the purpose.
I know they have arts in India, by which a man can secure his own
interest, in the salutation of a friendly shake by the hand; and
I don't doubt that you, who have lived in that country, are master
of the secret. To be sure, if you were inclined to communicate such
a nostrum, there are abundance of people who would purchase it at
a very high price.
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