LETTER XIX
MR. BELFORD, TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.TUESDAY MORN. JULY 18, SIX O'CLOCK.
Having sat up so late to finish and seal in readiness my letter to theabove period, I am disturbed before I wished to have risen, by thearrival of thy second fellow, man and horse in a foam.
While he baits, I will write a few lines, most heartily to congratulatethee on thy expected rage and impatience, and on thy recovery of mentalfeeling.
How much does the idea thou givest me of thy deserved torments, by thyupright awls, bodkins, pins, and packing-needles, by thy rolling hogsheadwith iron spikes, and by thy macerated sides, delight me!
I will, upon every occasion that offers, drive more spikes into thyhogshead, and roll thee down hill, and up, as thou recoverest to sense,or rather returnest back to senselessness. Thou knowest therefore theterms on which thou art to enjoy my correspondence. Am not I, who haveall along, and in time, protested against thy barbarous and ungratefulperfidies to a woman so noble, entitled to drive remorse, if possible,into thy hitherto-callous heart?
Only let me repeat one thing, which perhaps I mentioned too slightlybefore. That the lady was determined to remove to new lodgings, whereneither you nor I should be able to find her, had I not solemnly assuredher, that she might depend upon being free from your visits.
These assurances I thought I might give her, not only because of yourpromise, but because it is necessary for you to know where she is, inorder to address yourself to her by your friends.
Enable me therefore to make good to her this my solemn engagement; oradieu to all friendship, at least to all correspondence, with thee forever.
J. BELFORD.