Moreover, he was possessed of a formula whereby to extract juice from
a flattened lemon, and he would do business with me.
I told him my desires humbly, in quavering syllables. In return, he
craved my antecedents and residence, pried into my private life,
insolently demanded how many children had I and did I live in
wedlock, and asked divers other unseemly and degrading questions.
Ay, I was treated like a thief convicted before the act, till I
produced my certificates of goods and chattels aforementioned. Never
had they appeared so insignificant and paltry as then, when he
sniffed over them with the air of one disdainfully doing a
disagreeable task. It is said, "Thou shalt not lend upon usury to
thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of anything
that is lent upon usury"; but he evidently was not my brother, for he
demanded seventy per cent. I put my signature to certain indentures,
received my pottage, and fled from his presence.
Faugh! I was glad to be quit of it.
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