It is impossible, said I, that there can be half so
many rogues as are imagined.
"I travelled, because it is the fashion for young men of my fortune
to travel. I had a travelling tutor, which is the fashion too; but
my tutor was a gentleman, which it is not always the fashion for
tutors to be. His gentility, indeed, was all he had from his
father, whose prodigality had not left him a shilling to support it.
"'I have a favour to ask of you, my dear Mountford,' said my father,
'which I will not be refused. You have travelled as became a man;
neither France nor Italy have made anything of Mountford, which
Mountford, before he left England, would have been ashamed of. My
son Edward goes abroad, would you take him under your protection?'
"He blushed; my father's face was scarlet. He pressed his hand to
his bosom, as if he had said, my heart does not mean to offend you.
Mountford sighed twice.
"'I am a proud fool,' said he, 'and you will pardon it. There! (he
sighed again) I can hear of dependance, since it is dependance on my
Sedley.'
"'Dependance!' answered my father; 'there can be no such word
between us. What is there in 9,000 pounds a year that should make
me unworthy of Mountford's friendship?'
"They embraced; and soon after I set out on my travels, with
Mountford for my guardian.
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