The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

But the thing was done; I was now in the arms of my new spouse, who

appeared still the same as before; great even to magnificence, and

nothing less than #1000 a year could support the ordinary equipage he

appeared in.

After we had been married about a month, he began to talk of my going

to West Chester in order to embark for Ireland. However, he did not

hurry me, for we stayed near three weeks longer, and then he sent to

Chester for a coach to meet us at the Black Rock, as they call it, over

against Liverpool. Thither we went in a fine boat they call a pinnace,

with six oars; his servants, and horses, and baggage going in the

ferry-boat. He made his excuse to me that he had no acquaintance in

Chester, but he would go before and get some handsome apartment for me

at a private house. I asked him how long we should stay at Chester.

He said, not at all, any longer than one night or two, but he would

immediately hire a coach to go to Holyhead. Then I told him he should

by no means give himself the trouble to get private lodgings for one

night or two, for that Chester being a great place, I made no doubt but

there would be very good inns and accommodation enough; so we lodged at

an inn in the West Street, not far from the Cathedral; I forget what

sign it was at.

Here my spouse, talking of my going to Ireland, asked me if I had no

affairs to settle at London before we went off. I told him No, not of

any great consequence, but what might be done as well by letter from

Dublin. 'Madam,' says he, very respectfully, 'I suppose the greatest

part of your estate, which my sister tells me is most of it in money in

the Bank of England, lies secure enough, but in case it required

transferring, or any way altering its property, it might be necessary

to go up to London and settle those things before we went over.' I seemed to look strange at it, and told him I knew not what he meant;

that I had no effects in the Bank of England that I knew of; and I

hoped he could not say that I had ever told him I had. No, he said, I

had not told him so, but his sister had said the greatest part of my

estate lay there. 'And I only mentioned it, me dear,' said he, 'that

if there was any occasion to settle it, or order anything about it, we

might not be obliged to the hazard and trouble of another voyage back

again'; for he added, that he did not care to venture me too much upon

the sea.