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He therefore disappeared from their midst one day as suddenly and unaccountably as he had come amongst them。 He did not； however； take himself afar； but donning a new disguise； retreated to a more distant part of the city： for an idea had occurred to him which he determined speedily to put in practice。 This was to assume the character and bearing of a sage astrologer and learned physician； at once capable of reading the past； and laying bare the future of all who consulted him； also of healing diseases of and preventing mishaps to such as visited him。 Accordingly； having taken lodgings in Tower Street； at a goldsmith's house； situated next the Black Swan； he prepared himself for practice； adopted the title of doctor； the name of Alexander Bendo； and issued bills headed by the royal arms； containing the most remarkable and impudent manifesto perhaps ever set forth by any impostor。
Copies of this may yet be seen in early editions of his works。 It was addressed to all gentlemen； ladies； and others； whether of the city； town； or country； to whom Alexander Bendo wished health and prosperity。 He had come amongst them because the great metropolis of England had ever been infested by numerous quacks； whose arrogant confidence； backed by their ignorance； had enabled them to impose on the public； either by premeditated cheats in physic； chymical and galenic； in astrology； physiognomy； palmistry； mathematics； alchymy； and even government itself。 Of which latter he did not propose to discourse； or meddle with； since it in no way belonged to his trade or vocation； which he thanked God he found much more safe； equally honest； and more profitable。 But he； Alexander Bendo； had with unswerving faithfulness and untiring assiduity for years courted the arts and sciences； and had learned dark secrets and received signal favours from them。 He was therefore prepared to take part against unlearned wretches； and arrant quacks； whose impudent addresses and saucy pretences had brought scandal upon sage and learned men。
However； in a wicked world like this； where virtue was so exactly counterfeited； and hypocrisy was generally successful； it would be hard for him； a stranger； to escape censure。 But indeed he would submit to be considered a mountebank if he were discovered to be one。 Having made which statement； he proceeded to draw an ingenious comparison between a mountebank and a politician； suitable to all ages and dimes； but especially to this century and country。 Both； he intimated； are fain to supply the lack of higher abilities to which they pretend； with craft； and attract attention by undertaking strange things which can never be performed。 By both the people are pleased and deluded； the expectation of good in the future drawing their eyes from the certainty of evil in the present。
The sage Alexander Bendo then discoursed of miraculous cures which he could effect； but he would set down no word in his bill which bore an unclean sound。 It was enough that he made himself understood； but indeed he had seen physicians' bills containing things of which no man who walked warily before God could approve。 Concerning astrological predictions； physiognomy； divination by dreams； and otherwise； he would say； if it did not look like ostentation； he had seldom failed； but had often been of service； and to those who came to him he would guarantee satisfaction。 Nor would he be ashamed to avow his willingness to practise rare secrets； for the help； conservation； and augmentation of beauty and comeliness； an endowment granted for the better establishment of mutual love between man and woman； and as such highly valuable to both。 The knowledge of secrets like this he had gathered during journeys through France and Italy； in which countries he had spent his life since he was fifteen years old。 Those who had travelled in the latter country knew what a miracle art there performs in behalf of beauty； how women of forty bear the same countenance as those of fifteen； ages being in no way distinguished by appearances； whereas in England； by looking at a horse in the mouth and a woman in the face； it was possible to tell the number of their years。 He could； therefore； give such remedies as would render those who came to him perfectly fair； clearing and preserving them from all spots； freckles； pimples； marks of small…pox； or traces of accidents。 He would； moreover； cure the teeth； clear the breath； take away fatness； and add flesh。
A man who vouched to perform such wonders was not long without patients。 At first these were drawn from his immediate neighbourhood； but soon his fame reached the heart of the city。 Accordingly； many ladies of whose hospitality he had partaken； and of whose secrets he had become possessed； hurried to consult him； and the marvellous insight he betrayed regarding their past； and strange predictions he pronounced concerning their future； filled them with amazement； and occasionally with alarm。 And they； proclaiming the marvels of his wisdom； widened the circle of his reputation； until his name was spoken within the precincts of Whitehall。
Curiosity concerning so remarkable a man at once beset the minds of certain ladies at court； who either feared or expected much from the future； and were anxious to peer into such secrets as it held concerning themselves。 But dreading the notoriety their presence would naturally cause in the vicinity of Tower Street； a spot to them unknown； they； acting with a prudence not invariably characteristic of their conduct； sent their maids to ascertain from personal experience if the astrologer's wisdom was in truth as marvellous as reported。 Now； when these appeared in fear and trembling before the great Alexander Bendo； the knowledge he revealed concerning themselves； and their mistresses likewise； was so wonderful that it exceeded all expectation。 Accordingly； the maids returned to court with such testimonies concerning the lore of this star…reader； as fired afresh their mistresses' desires to see and converse with him in their proper persons。
It therefore came to pass that Miss Price and Miss Jennings； maids of honour boththe one to the queen； the other to the Duchess of Yorkboldly resolved to visit Doctor Bendo； and learn what the future held for them。 Miss Price was a lady who delighted in adventure； Miss Jennings was a gentlewoman of spirit； both looked forward to their visit with excitement and interest。 It happened one night； when the court had gone to the playhouse； these ladies； who had excused themselves from attending the queen and the duchess； dressed as orange girls； and taking baskets of fruit under their arms； quickly crossed the park； and entered a hackney…coach at Whitehall Gate。 Bidding the driver convey them to Tower Street； they rattled merrily enough over the uneven streets until they came close to the theatre； when； being in high spirits and feeling anxious to test the value of their disguise； they resolved to alight from their conveyance； enter the playhouse； and offer their wares for sale in presence of the court。
Accordingly； paying the driver； they descended from the coach； and running between the lines of chairs gathered round the theatre； gained