This Verrat, who had no
great plenty of money, took it in his head to rob her of the most
early production of her garden, and by the sale of it procure those
indulgences he could not otherwise afford himself; not being very
nimble, he did not care to run the hazard of a surprise. After some
preliminary flattery, which I did not comprehend the meaning of, he
proposed this expedition to me, as an idea which had that moment
struck him. At first I would not listen to the proposal; but he
persisted in his solicitation, and as I could never resist the attacks
of flattery, at length prevailed. In pursuance of this virtuous
resolution, I every morning repaired to the garden, gathered the
best of the asparagus, and took it to the Molard where some good old
women, who guessed how I came by it, wishing to diminish the price,
made no secret of their suspicions; this produced the desired
effect, for, being alarmed, I took whatever they offered, which
being taken to Mr. Verrat, was presently metamorphosed into a
breakfast, and divided with a companion of his; for, though I procured
it, I never partook of their good cheer, being fully satisfied with an
inconsiderable bribe.
I executed my roguery with the greatest fidelity, seeking only to
please my employer; and several days passed before it came into my
head to rob the robber, and tithe Mr. Verrat's harvest. I never
considered the hazard I run in these expeditions, not only of a
torrent of abuse, but what I should have been still more sensible
of, a hearty beating; for the miscreant, who received the whole
benefit, would certainly have denied all knowledge of the fact, and
I should only have received a double portion of punishment for
daring to accuse him, since being only an apprentice, I stood no
chance of being believed in opposition to a journeyman.
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