“To be short; those two persons you see yonder, are such as I am; they are not real men, but are mere shades and figures:  one is named Alethes; the other, Verisimilis.  Their office is to be the guardians and representatives of Conscience and Honour.  They are now going to visit the several parts of the town, to see how their interests in the world decay or flourish, and to purge themselves from the many false imputations they daily meet with in the commerce and conversation of men.  You observed Verisimilis frowned when he first saw me.  What he is provoked at, is, that I told him one day, though he strutted and dressed with so much ostentation, if he kept himself within his own bounds, he was but a lackey, and wore only that gentleman’s livery whom he is now with.  This frets him to the heart; for you must know, he has pretended a long time to set up for himself, and gets among a crowd of the more unthinking part of mankind, who take him for a person of the first quality; though his introduction into the world was wholly owing to his present companion.”

This encounter was very agreeable to me, and I was resolved to dog them, and desired Pacolet to accompany me.  I soon perceived what he told me in the gesture of the persons:  for when they looked at each other in discourse, the well-dressed man suddenly cast down his eyes, and discovered that the other had a painful superiority over him.  After some further discourse, they took leave.  The plain gentleman went down towards Thames Street, in order to be present, at least, at the oaths taken at the Custom-house; and the other made directly for the heart of the city.  It is incredible how great a change there immediately appeared in the man of honour when he got rid of his uneasy companion:  he adjusted the cock of his hat anew, settled his sword-knot, and had an appearance that attracted a sudden inclination for him and his interests in all who beheld him.  “For my part,” said I to Pacolet, “I cannot but think you are mistaken in calling this person, of the lower quality; for he looks much more like a gentleman than the other.  Don’t you observe all eyes are upon him as he advances:  how each sex gazes at his stature, aspect, address, and motion?” Pacolet only smiled, and shaked his head; as leaving me to be convinced by my own further observation.  We kept on our way after him till we came to Exchange Alley, where the plain gentleman again came up to the other; and they stood together after the manner of eminent merchants, as if ready to receive application; but I could observe no man talk to either of them.  The one was laughed at as a fop; and I heard many whispers against the other, as a whimsical sort of fellow, and a great enemy to trade.  They crossed Cornhill together, and came into the full ’Change, where some bowed, and gave themselves airs in being known to so fine a man as Verisimilis, who, they said, had great interests in all princes’ courts; and the other was taken