Such a public transaction could not long escape the knowledge of
his father, who that very day had the satisfaction to hear that his
son was in a spunging-house. In consequence of this information,
he sent his steward to learn the particulars of the arrest, and
was equally offended, surprised, and concerned, when he understood
the nature of the debt, which he imagined his son had already discharged.
Unwilling to pay such a considerable sum for a spendthrift, whom
he had but too much indulged, and who in less than one week might
involve himself in such another difficulty, the old gentleman wrote
a letter to Peregrine, representing what a hardship it would be
upon him to forfeit such sums by the indiscretion of a son, whose
engagements he was not bound to fulfil, and desiring some mitigation
in his demand, as it was not a debt contracted for value received, but
incurred without subjecting him to the least damage or inconvenience.
Our adventurer no sooner received this letter, than he went in
person to wait upon the author, to whom he, in a candid manner,
related the particular circumstances of the match, together with the
ingratitude and audacity of his son, which he owned had stimulated
him to such measures as he otherwise would have scorned to take.
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