Peregrine happened one evening to be sitting alone in a coffee-house,
where he overheard a conversation between this schemer and another
gentleman, touching an affair that engaged his attention. The
stranger had been left trustee for fifteen hundred pounds bequeathed
to the other's daughter by an aunt, and was strongly solicited to
pay the money to the child's father, who assured him, he had then
an opportunity to lay it out in such a manner as would greatly
conduce to the advantage of his family. The trustee reminded him
of the nature of his charge, which made him accountable for the
money until the child should have attained the age of eighteen; but
at the same time gave him to understand, that, if he could procure
such security as would indemnify him from the consequences, he
would forthwith pay the legacy into his hands. To this proposal
the father replied. that it was not to be supposed he would risk
the fortune of his only child upon any idle scheme or precarious
issue; and therefore he thought it reasonable, that he should have
the use of it in the meantime; and that, as to security, he was
loth to trouble any of his friends about an affair which might be
compromised without their interposition; observing, that he would
not look upon his condescension as a favour, if obtained by security,
on which he could borrow the same sum from any usurer in town.
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