Such fellows are like your wire-drawing mills: if they get hold of a man's finger they will pull in his whole body at last, till they squeeze the heart, blood, and guts out of him.

When I wanted money, half a dozen of these fellows were always waiting in my ante-chamber with their securities ready drawn.* I was tempted with the ready, some farm or other went to pot.

I received with one hand, and paid it away with the other to lawyers that, like so many hell hounds, were ready to devour me.

Then the rogues would plead poverty and scarcity of money, which always ended in receiving ninety for the hundred.

After they had got possession of my best rents they were able to supply me with my own money.