But this feeling was quickly effaced by anxiety respecting his mistress, whose charms, now that there was every probability of losing her (for Leonard's insinuation had led him to believe she was assailed by the pestilence), appeared doubly attractive to him; and scarcely under the governance of reason, he hurried towards Wood-street, resolved to force his way into the house, and see her again, at all hazards.

His wild design, however, was fortunately prevented.

As he passed the end of the court leading to the ancient inn (for it was ancient even at the time of this history), the Swan-with-two-Necks, in Lad-lane, a young man, as richly attired as himself, and about his own age, who had seen him approaching, suddenly darted from it, and grasping his cloak, detained him.
"I thought it must be you, Wyvil," cried this person.

"Where are you running so quickly?
I see neither angry father, nor jealous apprentice, at your heels.

What has become of the girl?
Are you tired of her already ?" "Let me go, Lydyard," returned Wyvil, trying to extricate himself from his companion's hold, who was no other than the gallant that had accompanied him on his first visit to the grocer's shop, and had played his part so adroitly in the scheme devised between them to procure an interview with Amabel,--"let me go, I say, I am in no mood for jesting." "Why, what the plague is the matter ?" rejoined Lydyard.