Injustice from Avarice

“Sir William Smyth, of Bedfordshire, who was my kinsman,” relates King, “when he was near seventy was wholly deprived of his sight. He was persuaded to be operated on by Taylor, the oculist, who, by agreement, was to have sixty guineas if he restored his patient to any degree of sight. Taylor succeeded in his operation, and Sir William was able to read and write without the use of spectacles during the rest of his life; but as soon as the operation was performed, and Sir William perceived the good effects of it, instead of being overjoyed, as any other person would have been, he began to lament the loss (as he called it) of his sixty guineas. His contrivance therefore now was how to cheat the oculist. He pretended he had only a glimmering, and could see nothing perfectly; for that reason the bandage on his eyes was continued a month longer than the usual time. By this means he obliged Taylor to compromise the bargain, and accept twenty guineas for payment; for a covetous man thinks no method dishonest which he may legally practice to save his money. Sir William was an old bachelor, and at the time Taylor performed his eye surgery, had a fair estate in land, a large sum of money in the stocks, and not less than five thousand or six thousand pounds in his house.”