The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Famous Moll Flanders
Page 84He was in a might good humour when he heard me say I had paid her, and
it went off into some other discourse at that time. But the next
morning, he having heard me up about my room before him, he called to
me, and I answering, he asked me to come into his chamber. He was in
bed when I came in, and he made me come and sit down on his bedside,
for he said he had something to say to me which was of some moment.
After some very kind expressions, he asked me if I would be very honest
to him, and give a sincere answer to one thing he would desire of me.
ever given him any answers which were not sincere, I promised him I
would. Why, then, his request was, he said, to let him see my purse.
I immediately put my hand into my pocket, and, laughing to him, pulled
it out, and there was in it three guineas and a half. Then he asked me
if there was all the money I had. I told him No, laughing again, not
by a great deal.
Well, then, he said, he would have me promise to go and fetch him all
my chamber and fetched him a little private drawer, where I had about
six guineas more, and some silver, and threw it all down upon the bed,
and told him there was all my wealth, honestly to a shilling. He
looked a little at it, but did not tell it, and huddled it all into the
drawer again, and then reaching his pocket, pulled out a key, and bade
me open a little walnut-tree box he had upon the table, and bring him
such a drawer, which I did. In which drawer there was a great deal of
much. He took the drawer, and taking my hand, made me put it in and
take a whole handful. I was backward at that, but he held my hand hard
in his hand, and put it into the drawer, and made me take out as many
guineas almost as I could well take up at once.
When I had done so, he made me put them into my lap, and took my little
drawer, and poured out all my money among his, and bade me get me gone,
and carry it all home into my own chamber.