My Lord Protector committed him with six hundred pounds a year
maintenance money to the care of his committee, the Honourable Fynes
Beverley.
Now this corporate, yet honourable individual, to whom something was
committed, and so Chancery Lane called him in its own sweet French the
thing committed, was a gentleman of birth, breeding, and intelligence. He
undertook to take care of his simple cousin; and what he did take care of
was himself.
THE SUB-LETTING SWINDLE.
I. The Honourable Fynes Beverley, Anglo-French committee, or crown
tenant, sub-let soft Francis for L. 300 a year, pocketed L. 300, and
washed his hands of Frank.
2. Mr. Heselden, the sub-tenant, sub-let the Softy of high degree for L.
150, pocketed the surplus, and washed his hands of him.
3. The L. 150 man sub-let him to Dr. Wolf at L. 60 a year, pouched the
surplus, and washed his hands of him.
And now what on earth was left for poor Dr. Wolf to do? Could he
sub-embezzle a Highlander's breeks? Could he subtract more than her skin
from off the singed cat? Could he peel the core of a rotten apple? Could
he pare a grated cheese rind? Could he flay a skinned flint? Could he
fleece a hog after Satan had shaved it as clean as a bantam's egg?
Let no man dare to limit genius; least of all the genius of extortion.
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