The knight, having made an apology for this intrusion, desired to know if he could be of any service to Mr.Distich, as he was now at liberty to use the little influence he had for the relief of his fellow-sufferers .-- The poet having eyed him for some time askance, "I told you," said he, "your stay in this place would be of short duration.
-- I have sustained a small disaster on my left eye, from the hands of a rascally cordwainer, who pretends to believe himself the King of Prussia, and I am now in the very act of galling his majesty with keen iambics .-- If you can help me to a roll of tobacco and a bottle of geneva, so;--if you are not so inclined, your humble servant, I shall share in the joy of your deliverance." The knight declined gratifying him in these particulars, which he apprehended might be prejudicial to his health, but offered his assistance in redressing his grievances, provided he laboured under any cruel treatment or inconvenience.

"I comprehend the full extent of your generosity," replied the satirist; "you are willing to assist me in everything, except the only circumstances in which assistance is required--God b'w'ye--If you see Ben Bullock, tell him I wish he would not dedicate any more of his works to me .-- D--n the fellow, he has changed his note, and begins to snivel .-- For my part, I stick to my former maxim, defy all the world, and will die hard, even if death should be preceded by damnation." The knight, finding him incorrigible, left him to the slender chance of being one day comforted by the dram-bottle; but resolved, if possible, to set on foot an accurate inquiry into the economy and transactions of this private inquisition, that ample justice might be done in favour of every injured individual confined within its walls.
In the afternoon he did not fail to visit his Aurelia; and all the protestations of their mutual passion were once more interchanged.

He now produced the letter which had caused such fatal disquiet in his bosom; and Miss Darnel no sooner eyed the paper, than she recollected it was a formal dismission, which she had intended and directed for Mr.
Sycamore.

This the uncle had intercepted, and cunningly enclosed in another cover, addressed to Sir Launcelot Greaves, who was now astonished beyond measure to see the mystery so easily unfolded.

The joy that now diffused itself in the hearts of our lovers, is more easily conceived than described; but, in order to give a stability to this mutual satisfaction, it was necessary that Aurelia should be secured from the tyranny of her uncle, whose power of guardianship would not otherwise expire for some months.
Dr.Kawdle and his lady having entered into their deliberations on the subject, it was agreed that Miss Darnel should have recourse to the protection of the Lord Chancellor; but such application was rendered unnecessary by the unexpected arrival of John Clump with the following letter to Mrs.Kawdle from the steward of Anthony Darnel, dated at Aurelia's house in the country:-- "MADAM,--It hath pleased God to afflict Mr.Darnel with a severe stroke of the dead palsy .-- He was taken ill yesterday, and now lies insensible, seemingly at the point of death.