"Get me a chair, Joseph," said his
Reverence, who infinitely preferred a seat gratis in the coach.
"That fool," muttered he, "will not move for this hour." The
reverend gentleman knew that, when the Count was on the subject of
the physician's wife, his discourses were intolerably long; and took
upon himself, therefore, to disappear, along with the rest of the
Count's party; who procured other conveyances, and returned to their
homes.
After this quiet shadow had passed before the Count's box, many
groups of persons passed and repassed; and among them was no other
than Mrs. Polly Briggs, to whom we have been already introduced.
Mrs. Polly was in company with one or two other ladies, and leaning
on the arm of a gentleman with large shoulders and calves, a fierce
cock to his hat, and a shabby genteel air. His name was Mr. Moffat,
and his present occupation was that of doorkeeper at a gambling-
house in Covent Garden; where, though he saw many thousands pass
daily under his eyes, his own salary amounted to no more than
four-and-sixpence weekly,--a sum quite insufficient to maintain him
in the rank which he held.
Mr. Moffat had, however, received some funds--amounting indeed, to a
matter of twelve guineas--within the last month, and was treating
Mrs.
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