_Mistress_ Dorothy _finishes the Story of the Gentleman-Soldier and Mercers Wife; who being returned to_ England, _renews his Suit to his old Mistress, though married to another, whose weakness made the match unsuitable, whose Estate depending on an Heir, and this Husband uncapable of getting one, gave the Gentleman that opportunity whereby he at once had a Wife, an Heir, and an Estate._
Thus (continued the young Gentleman) did I initiate my acquaintance with this woman, which is one of the best and pleasantest Adventures of my life, and indeed, said he, I have no cause to complain of women, for that Sex hitherto hath been very lucky to me, as you may guess by my Story of the _Courtezan_, whose Cabinet and other things I conveyed away; and now by this second _French_ adventure I was likely to gain more, and that more honourably than by the other. But, continued he, in six days after my Companion returned from his Journey; I asked him if we must not all have Stables; Why? said he; because, replied I, I suppose that your Unkle is dead, and hath left you all he hath: No such matter, replied he, but I could wish that he were hang’d that writ the Letter; why? said I, I think it was very carefully done, of him, and that he deserved not only thanks, but a Reward; I should reward him if I knew who he was, said he: Why, cannot you find him? said I; No, nor no body else, said he, there is no such sign nor no such man, living in or near that Town, nor in all that Countrey, that I could hear of; but I hope (said I) there was and is such an Unkle; yes, reply’d he, and Heavens be praised, in health too, but I was forc’d to go further a field to find him, for after I had spent a whole day in fruitless search for the Host, who sent the Letter, and could not hear of any Tale nor Tidings of him, I being within thirty miles of my Unkles habitation, thought it very proper to ride on thither, and so I did, but when I came I found him well and lusty, I shewed him the Letter, and thereby he knew the occasion of my Journey, but he knew not who writ it, and he and I both concluded it was a trick put upon me, however we were joyful to see one another well, and he intended to take a journey to _Paris_ in few days, to order me some moneys, but since I was come my self, he resolved to desist from that Journey, and give me Bills of Exchange, fain he would have engaged me to have staid there for some days longer, but telling him I had affairs of consequence to dispatch at _Paris_, that required my presence, he gave me leave to depart; and so, said he, with all possible expedition I am returned: and you are very welcome (replyed I) but this was a very strange adventure of the Letter, and I cannot tell to what purpose, nor I neither said he, but I hope to find it out, for I preserve the Letter carefully. I gave him the hearing, and now knowing his thoughts, I believed my self obliged to mind his Actions; as for the Letter he had, and his Design of finding out the Writer of the Letter by the hand, I knew he could not, for although I writ it, yet it was in such a hand as I never writ before, and which I then writ on purpose not to be discovered by it, if he should be acquainted with my hand, as hitherto he was not, wherefore I car’d not for that, but my chiefest care was in charging my Boy to watch his, and knowing that he would suddenly write a Letter to send to his Mistress, I commanded him to use all possible diligence to get it into his Custody, and bring it to me, as being a matter of very great consequence.