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and that his solicitors said they were obliged to grant annuities on Sir Timothy's estates. Every body pitied this young man, as he was in the high road to ruin, and every person wondered that his relations did not endeavour to save him from designing villains. Mr. Modish bragged to every one that his client was many thousands in his debt; and report said that he was soon to be married to Miss Shark, as her mother had got a promise from the Baronet to that effect, which she was come down to see fulfilled. Mrs. Mortimer was extremely concerned to hear all this, especially as she knew that Sir Timothy Flight was naturally of a good disposition; and was convinced, that when permitted to come to himself and reflect, he would be shocked to find how she had been persecuted, because she would not join to defraud him. It was impossible, she thought, that a man, who once possessed every great and noble

virtue, could be so debased as he now was to all appearance.

As to Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Modish and family, they were the laugh and detestation of Brighton. Miss Charlotte Modish had been endeavouring to captivate the Colonel of Dragoons; but as that gentleman had some taste, he had chosen a different lady, and poor Miss Charlotte, at forty years of age, with upwards, as reported, of forty thousand pounds, dressed, frisked, and sung-to herself for no person seemed inclined to rob her dear papa and mamma of their gentle daughter. Not so with old Abraham Modish: one of his sons fell in love with the amiable daughter of a respectable officer. This gentleman had been a colonel in the army: he was brave, and of strict honour; but having little besides his pay, his circumstances were embarrassed, and Mr. Abraham Modish begged that his dear friend would make

use of his purse, and that he could pay him when perfectly convenient to himself, as so trifling a sum was of no consequence, even the loss of it could not be felt by him. The Colonel accepted this offer, and not many weeks after, Mr. Abraham Modish demanded this gentleman's daughter for his son. The Colonel said he had no objection, provided such a proposal was agreeable to his child, but she alone must decide. The lady was accordingly applied to for her consent; but her repugnance to a union with either Mr. Alexander or Mr. Symphony Modish was such, that she would have preferred death to accepting either of them. Mr. Abraham Modish was so exasperated at this, that he immediately arrested the father for the sum which he had forced on him, concluding that this brave son of Mars would sacrifice his child to secure his own safety; but such was the man that he had to deal with, that he would rather have terminated his

existence in the most loathsome prison, than have consented for his daughter to have become the bride of a Modish.

Mrs. Mortimer naturally concluded that all her accounts would now be settled, as she could not suppose that the Baronet would forfeit his word, but she was delivered this letter:

Madam,

You may remember that sometime ago I had occasion to write you upon an affair respecting some accounts between yourself and Sir Timothy Flight. I wished then to have interfered more as a friend than as a professional man, and felt a pleasure in a supposition that I could have rendered a service by my interference. I need not remind I need not remind you of the cause which rendered my services abortive. I am sorry to say that I am again placed in a similar situation to what I stood in when I before addressed you, in having a most unpleasant commission

to execute. But as I am far from being desirous from wielding the weapon intrusted to me, without first attempting an honourable and amicable arrangement, may I request the favour of you imme diately to have the goodness to call at our office, that the business may be fully entered into and explained, assuring you that no disadvantage from your attendance will arise. I am,

Madam, your most obedient servant,
JAMES BATCH.

Princes-place, 1811.

Mrs. Mortimer saw that the same method was now adopted to frighten her out of Brighton, as had been made use of the year preceding; for she had been told by a professional gentleman that no writ had been taken out against her, when she was before threatened to be arrested. She immediately waited on Mr. Batch, who told her that Sir Timothy Flight desired that he would arrest her,

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