and understood his business very well, but no man alive was more
careless in looking into his accounts, or more cheated by partners,
apprentices, and servants. This was occasioned by his being a boon
companion, loving his bottle and his diversion; for, to say truth,
no man kept a better house than John, nor spent his money more
generously. By plain and fair dealing John had acquired some plums,
and might have kept them, had it not been for his unhappy lawsuit.

Nic. Frog was a cunning, sly fellow, quite the reverse of John in
many particulars; covetous, frugal, minded domestic affairs, would
pinch his belly to save his pocket, never lost a farthing by
careless servants or bad debtors. He did not care much for any sort
of diversion, except tricks of high German artists and legerdemain.
No man exceeded Nic. in these; yet it must be owned that Nic. was a
fair dealer, and in that way acquired immense riches.

Hocus was an old cunning attorney, and though this was the first
considerable suit that ever he was engaged in he showed himself
superior in address to most of his profession. He kept always good
clerks, he loved money, was smooth-tongued, gave good words, and
seldom lost his temper. He was not worse than an infidel, for he
provided plentifully for his family, but he loved himself better
than them all. The neighbours reported that he was henpecked, which
was impossible, by such a mild-spirited woman as his wife was.



CHAPTER VI. Of the various success of the Lawsuit.*

* The success of the war.