The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders

I bought at a linen-draper's shop, not in the fair, but in the town of

Cambridge, as much fine holland and other things as came to about seven

pounds; when I had done, I bade them be sent to such an inn, where I

had purposely taken up my being the same morning, as if I was to lodge

there that night.

I ordered the draper to send them home to me, about such an hour, to

the inn where I lay, and I would pay him his money. At the time

appointed the draper sends the goods, and I placed one of our gang at

the chamber door, and when the innkeeper's maid brought the messenger

to the door, who was a young fellow, an apprentice, almost a man, she

tells him her mistress was asleep, but if he would leave the things and

call in about an hour, I should be awake, and he might have the money.

He left the parcel very readily, and goes his way, and in about half an

hour my maid and I walked off, and that very evening I hired a horse,

and a man to ride before me, and went to Newmarket, and from thence got

my passage in a coach that was not quite full to St. Edmund's Bury,

where, as I told you, I could make but little of my trade, only at a

little country opera-house made a shift to carry off a gold watch from

a lady's side, who was not only intolerably merry, but, as I thought, a

little fuddled, which made my work much easier.

I made off with this little booty to Ipswich, and from thence to

Harwich, where I went into an inn, as if I had newly arrived from

Holland, not doubting but I should make some purchase among the

foreigners that came on shore there; but I found them generally empty

of things of value, except what was in their portmanteaux and Dutch

hampers, which were generally guarded by footmen; however, I fairly got

one of their portmanteaux one evening out of the chamber where the

gentleman lay, the footman being fast asleep on the bed, and I suppose

very drunk.

The room in which I lodged lay next to the Dutchman's, and having

dragged the heavy thing with much ado out of the chamber into mine, I

went out into the street, to see if I could find any possibility of

carrying it off. I walked about a great while, but could see no

probability either of getting out the thing, or of conveying away the

goods that were in it if I had opened it, the town being so small, and

I a perfect stranger in it; so I was returning with a resolution to

carry it back again, and leave it where I found it. Just in that very

moment I heard a man make a noise to some people to make haste, for the

boat was going to put off, and the tide would be spent. I called to

the fellow, 'What boat is it, friend,' says I, 'that you belong to?'

'The Ipswich wherry, madam,' says he. 'When do you go off?' says I.

'This moment, madam,' says he; 'do you want to go thither?' 'Yes,'

said I, 'if you can stay till I fetch my things.' 'Where are your

things, madam?' says he. 'At such an inn,' said I. 'Well, I'll go

with you, madam,' says he, very civilly, 'and bring them for you.'

'Come away, then,' says I, and takes him with me.