Here
Jones offered to take leave of his guide, and to improve his pace; but
the fellow, in whom that violent surprize and joy which the first
receipt of the guinea had occasioned was now considerably abated,
and who had now had sufficient time to recollect himself, put on a
discontented look, and, scratching his head, said, "He hoped his
worship would give him something more. Your worship," said he,
"will, I hope, take it into your consideration that if I had not
been honest I might have kept the whole." And, indeed, this the reader
must confess to have been true. "If the paper there," said he, "be
worth L100, I am sure the finding it deserves more than a guinea.
Besides, suppose your worship should never see the lady, nor give it
her- and, though your worship looks and talks very much like a
gentleman, yet I have only your worship's bare word; and, certainly,
if the right owner ben't to be found, it all belongs to the first
finder. I hope your worship will consider of all these matters: I am
but a poor man, and therefore don't desire to have all; but it is
but reasonable I should have my share. Your worship looks like a
good man, and, I hope, will consider my honesty; for I might have kept
every farthing, and nobody ever the wiser." "I promise thee, upon my
honour," cries Jones, "that I know the right owner, and will restore
it her." "Nay, your worship," answered the fellow, "may do as you
please as to that; if you will but give me my share, that is, one-half
of the money, your honour may keep the rest yourself if you please;"
and concluded with swearing, by a very vehement oath, "that he would
never mention a syllable of it to any man living.
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