The next two years he has a letter of licence, and contrives to live by ways and means (for he has grown comparatively knowing.) Then he marries, and the wife has the honour of discharging his debts, her fortune proving just sufficient for the purpose.

Then he manages to live a couple of years more on credit, and retires to one of his Majesty's prisons." By this time Mr.Safebind made his appearance, and with great politeness inquired if the Gentlemen were accommodated in the way they wished?
Upon being assured of this, and requested to take a seat, after some introductory conversation, he gave them the following account of himself and his business:-- "We have brought nine Gemmen into the house this morning; and, though I say it, no Gemman goes out that would have any objection to come into it again." Tallyho shrugg'd up his shoulders in a way that seemed to imply a doubt.
~381~~ "For," continued he, "a Gemman that is a Gemman shall always find genteel treatment here.

I always acts upon honour and secrecy; and if as how a Gemman can't bring his affairs into a comfortable shape here, why then he is convey'd away without exposure, that is, if he understands things." With assurances of this kind, the veracity of which no one present could doubt, they were entertained for some time by their loquacious Host, who, having the gift of the gab,{1} would probably have continued long in the same strain of important information; when dinner was placed on the table, and they fell to with good appetites, seeming almost to have made use of the customary grace among theatricals.{2} "The table cleared, the frequent glass goes round, And joke and song and merriment abound." "Your house," said Dashall, "might well be termed the Temple of the Arts, since their real votaries are so frequently its inhabitants." "Very true, Sir," said Safebind, "and as the Poet observes, it is as often graced by the presence of the devotees to the Sciences: in point of company he says we may almost call it multum in parvo, or the Camera Obscura of Life.

There are at this time within these walls, a learned Alchymist, two Students in Anatomy, and a Physician--a Poet, a Player, and a Musician.

The Player is an adept at mimicry, the Musician a good player, and the Poet no bad stick at a rhyme; all anxious to turn their talents to good account, and, when mingled together, productive of harmony, though the situation they are in at present is rather discordant to their feelings; but then you know 'tis said, that discord is the soul of harmony, and they knocked up a duet among themselves yesterday, which I thought highly amusing." "I am fond of music," said Merry well--"do you think they would take a glass of wine with us ?" 1 Gift of the gab--Fluency of speech.
2 It is a very common thing among the minor theatricals, when detained at rehearsals, &c.