take. Yet so tamed are those poor people | appointment; for he was an utter stranger to subjection, that when Peregrine mention-to fear and diffidence on those occasions, and ed this assassination to his own trimmer, with had set his heart upon chastising the insoexpressions of horror and detestation, the in-lence of this bully, who had treated him with fatuated wretch replied, that without all doubt such disrespect. it was a misfortune, but it proceeded from the gentleman's passion; and observed, by way of encomium on the government, that such vivacity is never punished in France.

of Passe, returned in the dusk of the evening | care of his governor, who saw the mousqueon foot.

taire come in, he told Mr Jolter that the He waited patiently till midnight, and then Frenchman had visited him in consequence arming himself with a case of pocket pistols, of an order he had received from his supeand attended by trusty Tom, with a cudgel in riors, to make an apology for his rude behahis hand, repaired to the lodgings of his sus-viour to him in the playhouse, and that they pected inamorata. Having given Pipes his had parted good friends. This assurance, cue, he knocked gently at the door, which together with Pickle's very tranquil and unwas no sooner opened by the lacquey, than concerned behaviour through the day, quiethe bolted in, before the fellow could recollected the terrors which had begun to take poshimself from the confusion occasioned by his session of his tutor's imagination; so that unexpected appearance; and, leaving Tom to the youth had an opportunity of giving him guard the door, ordered the trembling valet to the slip at night, when he betook himself to fight him up stairs into his lady's apartment. the lodgings of a friend, whom he engaged The first object that presented itself to his as his second, and with whom he immediately view, when he entered the anti-chamber, was took the field, in order to avoid the search a sword upon the table, which he immediately which Jolter, upon missing him, might set on seized, exclaiming in a loud and menacing foot. voice, that his mistress was false, and then in bed with another gallant, whom he would instantly put to death. This declaration, confirmed with many terrible oaths, he calculated for the hearing of his rival, who, understanding his sanguinary purpose, started up in great trepidation, and, naked as he was, dropped from the balcony into the street, while Peregrine thundered at the door for admittance; and guessing his design, gave him an oppor-commodated with a party of the horse guards, tunity of making this precipitate retreat. Pipes, who stood centinel at the door, observing the fugitive descend, attacked him with his cudgel, and sweating him from one end of the street to the other, at last committed him to the guet, by whom he was conveyed to the officer on duty, in a most disgraceful and deplorable condition.

This was a necessary precaution; for, as he did not appear at supper, and Pipes, who usually attended him in his excursions, could give no account of his motions, the governor was dreadfully alarmed at his absence, and ordered his man to run in quest of his master to all the places which he used to frequent, while he himself went to the commissaire, and, communicating his suspicions, was ac

who patroled round all the environs of the city, with a view of preventing the rencounter. Pipes might have directed them to the lady, by whose information they could have learnt the name and lodging of the mousquetaire, and, if he had been apprehended, the duel would not have happened; but he did not chuse to run the risk of disobliging his Meanwhile, Peregrine having burst open master, by intermeddling in the affair, and the chamber door, found the lady in the ut- was moreover very desirous that the Frenchmost dread and consternation, and the spoils man should be humbled; for he never doubtof her favourite scattered about the room; ed that Peregrine was more than a match but his resentment was doubly gratified, when for any two men in France. In this confihe learnt, upon inquiry, that the person who dence, therefore, he sought his master with had been so disagreeably interrupted, was great diligence, not with a view of disapno other than that individual mousquetaire, pointing his intention, but in order to attend with whom he had quarrelled at the come-him to the battle, that he might stand by him dy. He upbraided the nymph with her per- and see justice done. fidy and ingratitude, and, telling her that she must not expect the continuance of his regard, or the appointments which she had hitherto enjoyed from his bounty, went home to his own lodgings, overjoyed at the issue of the adventure.

The soldier, exasperated at the disgrace he had undergone, as well as at the outrageous insult of the English valet, whom he believed his master had tutored for the purpose, no sooner extricated himself from the opprobrious situation he had incurred, than, breathing vengeance against the author of the affront, he came to Peregrine's apartment, and demanded satisfaction upon the ramparts next morning before sun-rise. Our hero assured him he would not fail to pay his respects to him at the time and place appointed; and, foreseeing that he might be prevented from keeping this engagement by the officious

While this inquiry was carried on, our hero and his companion concealed themselves among some weeds that grew on the edge of the parapet, a few yards from the spot where he had agreed to meet the mousquetaire; and scarce had the morning rendered objects distinguishable, when they perceived their men advancing boldly to the place. Peregrine, seeing them approach, sprung forward to the ground, that he might have the glory of anticipating his antagonist; and, swords being drawn, all four were engaged in a twinkling. Pickle's eagerness had well nigh cost him his life; for, without minding his footing, he flew directly to his opposite, and stumbling over a stone, was wounded on one side of his head, before he could recover his attitude. Far from being dispirited at this check, it served only to animate him the more; being endowed with uncommon agil.

ity, he retrieved his posture in a moment, To this declaration Pickle made answer, and, having parried a second thrust, returned that Mr Jolter, by this time, ought to be the longe with such incredible speed, that convinced of the attention he had always the soldier had not time to resume his guard, paid to his ease and satisfaction; since he but was immediately run through the bend well knew, that he had ever looked upon of his right arm, and the sword dropping out him in the light of a friend, rather than as a of his hand, our hero's victory was complete. counsellor or tutor, and desired his company Having dispatched his own business, and in France, with a view of promoting his inreceived the acknowledgment of his adver- terest, not for any emolument he could expect sary, who, with a look of infinite mortifica- from his instruction. This being the case, tion, observed, that his was the fortune of he was at liberty to consult his own inclinathe day, he ran to part the seconds, just as tions, with regard to going or staying; though the weapon was twisted out of his compan- he could not help owning himself obliged by ion's hand upon which he took his place, the concern he expressed for his safety, and and, in all likelihood, an obstinate dispute would endeavour, for his own sake, to avoid would have ensued, had they not been inter-giving him any cause of disturbance in time rupted by the guard, at sight of whom the to come. two Frenchmen scampered off. Our young gentleman and his friend allowed themselves to be taken prisoners by the detachment, which had been sent out for that purpose, and were carried before the magistrate, who, having sharply reprimanded them for presuming to act in contempt of the laws, set them at liberty, in consideration of their being strangers, cautioning them, at the same time, to beware of such exploits for the future.

When Peregrine returned to his own lodgings, Pipes, seeing the blood trickling down upon his master's neck-cloth and solitaire, gave evident tokens of surprise and concern, not for the consequences of the wound, which he did not suppose dangerous, but for the glory of Old England, which he was afraid had suffered in the engagement; for he could not help saying, with an air of chagrin, as he followed the youth into his chamber, "I do suppose as how you gave that lubberly Frenchman as good as he brought."

CHAPTER XLI.

Mr Jolter threatens to leave him on account of his misconduct, which he promises to rectify—but his resolution is defeated by the impetuosity of his passions-he meets accidentally with Mrs Hornbeck, who elopes with him from her husband, but is restored by the interposition of the British ambassador.

THOUGH Mr Jolter was extremely well pleased at the safety of his pupil, he could not forgive him for the terror and anxiety he had undergone on his account; and roundly told him, that, notwithstanding the inclination and attachment he had to his person, he would immediately depart for England, if ever he should hear of his being involved in such another adventure; for it could not be expected that he would sacrifice his own quiet to an unrequited regard for one who seemed determined to keep him in continued uneasiness and apprehension.

No man was more capable of moralizing upon Peregrine's misconduct than himself; his reflections were extremely just and sagacious, and attended with no other disadvantage but that of occurring too late. He projected a thousand salutary schemes of deportment, but, like other projectors, he never had interest enough with the ministry of his passions to bring any one of them to bear. He had, in the heyday of his gallantry, received a letter from his friend Gauntlet, with a kind postscript from his charming Emilia: but it arrived at a very unseasonable juncture, when his imagination was engrossed by conquests that more agreeably flattered his ambition; so that he could not find leisure and inclination, from that day, to honour the correspondence which he himself had solicited. His vanity had by this time disapproved of the engagement he had contracted in the rawness and inexperience of youth; suggesting, that he was born to make such an important figure in life as ought to raise his ideas above the consideration of any such middling connexions, and fix his attention upon objects of the most sublime attraction. These dictates of ridiculous pride had almost effaced the remembrance of his amiable mistress, or at least so far warped his morals and integrity, that he actually began to conceive hopes of her altogether unworthy of his own character and her deserts.

Meanwhile, being destitute of a toy for the dalliance of his idle hours, he employed several spies, and almost every day made a tour of the public places in person, with a view of procuring intelligence of Mr Hornbeck, with whose wife he longed to have another interview. In this course of expectation had he exercised himself a whole fortnight, when, chancing to be at the hospital of invalids, with a gentleman lately arrived from England, he no sooner entered the church, than he perceived this lady, attended by her spouse, who, at the sight of our hero, changed colour, and looked another way, in order to discourage any communication between them. But the young man, who was not so easily

repulsed, advanced with great assurance to After the first transports of their mutual his fellow-traveller, and, taking him by the joy at meeting, she told him that her hushand, expressed his satisfaction at this un-band had been very surly and cross ever since expected meeting, kindly upbraiding him for the adventure at Chantilly, which he had not his precipitate retreat from Chantilly. Be- yet digested; that he had laid severe injunc fore Hornbeck could make any reply, he tions upon her to avoid all commerce with went up to his wife, whom he complimented Pickle, and even threatened to shut her up in in the same manner, assuring her, with some a convent for life, if ever she should discover significant glances, he was extremely morti- the least inclination to renew that acquaintfied that she had put it out of his power to ance; that she had been cooped up in her pay his respects to her on his first arrival at chamber since her arrival at Paris, without Paris; and then, turning to her husband, who being permitted to see the place, or indeed thought proper to keep close to him in this any company, except that of her landlady, conference, begged to know where he could whose language she did not understand; so have the honour of waiting upon him; ob- that her spirit being broke, and her health serving, at the same time, that he himself impaired, he was prevailed upon, some days lived a l'Academie de Palfrenier. ago, to indulge her in a few airings, during which she had seen the gardens of the Luxembourg, the Thuilleries, and Palais Royal, though at those times when there was no company in the walks; and that it was in one of those excursions she had the happiness of meeting with him. Finally, she gave him to understand, that, rather than continue longer under such confinement, with the man whom she could not love, she would instantly give him the slip, and put herself under the protection of her lover.

Mr Hornbeck, without making any apology for his elopement on the road, thanked Mr Pickle for his complaisance in a very cool and disobliging manner, saying, that as he intended to shift his lodgings in a day or two, he could not expect the pleasure of seeing him until he should be settled, when he would call at the academy, and conduct him to his new habitation.

Pickle, who was not unacquainted with the sentiments of this jealous gentleman, did not put much confidence in his promise, and therefore made divers efforts to enjoy a little private conversation with his wife; but he was baffled in all his attempts by the indefatigable vigilance of her keeper, and reaped no other immediate pleasure from this accidental meeting than that of a kind squeeze while he handed her into the coach. However, as he had been witness to some instances of her invention, and was no stranger to the favourable disposition of her heart, he entertained some faint hopes of profiting by her understanding, and was not deceived in his expectations; for, the very next afternoon, a Savoyard called at the academy, and put the following billet into his hand.

"Coind sur, heaving the playsure of meating with you at the ofspital of anvilheads, I take this lubbertea of latin you know, that I lotch at the hottail de May cong dangle rouy Doghouseten, with two postis at the gait, naytheir of um very hole, ware I shall be at the windore, if in kais you will be so good as to pass that way at sicks a cloak in the heavening, when Mr Hornbeck goes to the Calf hay de Contea. Prey for the loaf of Geesus keep this from the nolegs of my hussban, ells he will make me leed a hell upon urth. Being all from, deer sur, your most umbell servan wile "DEBORAH HORNBECK."

Rash and unthinking as this declaration might be, the young gentleman was so much of a gallant, that he would not baulk the lady's inclinations, and too infatuated by his passion to foresee the consequences of such a dangerous step. He therefore, without hesitation, embraced the proposal; and the coast being clear, they sallied into the street, where Peregrine called a fiacre, and ordered the coachman to drive them to a tavern: but, knowing it would not be in his power to conceal her from the search of the lieutenant de police, if she should remain within the walls of Paris, he hired a remise, and carried her that same evening to Villejuif, about four leagues from town, where he staid with her all night; and, having boarded her on a genteel pension, and settled the economy of his future visits, returned next day to his own lodgings.

While he thus enjoyed his success, her husband endured the tortures of the dainned. When he returned from the coffeehouse, and understood that his wife had eloped, without being perceived by any person in the family, he began to rave and foam with rage and jealousy, and in the fury of distraction accused the landlady of being an accomplice in her escape, threatening to complain of her to the commissaire. The woman could not Our young gentleman was ravished at the conceive how Mrs Hornbeck, who she knew receipt of this elegant epistle, which was di- was an utter stranger to the French lanrected A Monsr Monsr Pickell, a la Gad-guage, and kept no sort of company, could damme de Paul Freny, and did not fail to obey the summons at the hour of assignation; when the lady, true to her appointment, beckoned him up stairs, and he had the good fortune to be admitted unseen.

elude the caution of her husband, and find any refuge in a place where she had no acquaintance; and began to suspect the lodg er's emotion was no other than an affected passion to conceal his own practices upon

his wife, who had perhaps fallen a sacrifice | British ambassador, who, by dint of friendly to his jealous disposition. She therefore admonitions, would certainly prevail upon spared him the trouble of putting his menaces Mr Pickle to do him all the justice in his into execution, by going to the magistrate without any farther deliberation, and giving an account of what she knew concerning this mysterious affair, with certain insinuations against Mr Hornbeck's character, which she represented as peevish and capricious to the last degree.