diminished, when Jolter informed him of the
physician's behaviour, when he sent for him
to confer about the means of abridging their
confinement. Pickle himself was incensed
at his want of bowels; and, perceiving how
much he had sunk in the opinion of his fel-
low-traveller, resolved to encourage these
sentiments of disgust, and occasionally fo-
ment the division to a downright quarrel,
which he foresaw would produce some diver-
sion, and perhaps expose the poet's charac-
ter in such a light as would effectually pun-
ish him for his arrogance and barbarity.
With this view, he levelled several satirical
jokes at the doctor's pedantry and taste,
which had appeared so conspicuous in the
quotations he had got by heart from ancient
authors; in his affected disdain of the best
pictures in the world, which, had he been
endowed with the least share of discern-
ment, he could not have beheld with such
insensibility; and, lastly, in his ridiculous
banquet, which none but an egregious cox-
comb, devoid of all elegance and sense, would
have prepared, or presented to rational be-
ings. In a word, our young gentleman played
the artillery of his wit against him with such
success, that the painter seemed to wake
from a dream, and went home with a heartying to the British court.
contempt for the person he had formerly
adored.

himself whole for the expense of the enter-
tainment.

The physician, nettled at these sarcasms, eyed him with a look of indignation and disdain; and, being unwilling to express himself in English, lest, in the course of the altercation, Pallet should be so much irritated as to depart without him, he vented his anger in Greek. The painter, though, by the sound, he supposed this quotation to be Greek, complimented his friend upon his knowledge in the Welch language, and found means to rally him quite out of temper; so that he retired to his own chamber in the utmost wrath and mortification, and left his antagonist exulting over the victory he had won.

While those things passed between these originals, Peregrine waited upon the ambassador, whom he thanked for his kind interposition, acknowledging the indiscretion of his own conduct, with such appearance of conviction and promises of reformation, that his excellency freely forgave him for all the trouble he had been put to on his account, fortified him with sensible advices, and, assuring him of his continual favour and friendship, gave him, at parting, letters of introduction to several persons of quality belong

Thus distinguished, our young gentleman took leave of all his French acquaintance, and spent the evening with some of those who had enjoyed the greatest share of his intimacy and confidence; while Jolter superintended his domestic concerns, and, with infinite joy, bespoke a post-chaise and horses, in order to convey him from a place where he lived in continual apprehension of suffering by the dangerous disposition of his pupil. Every thing being adjusted according to their plan, they and their fellow-travellers next day dined together, and, about four in the afternoon, took their departure in two chaises, escorted by the valet de chambre, Pipes, and the doctor's lacquey, on horseback, well furnished with arms and ammunition, in case of being attacked by robbers on the road.

Instead of using the privilege of a friend, to enter his apartment without ceremony, he sent in his servant with a message, importing, that he intended to set out from Paris next day, in company with Mr Pickle, and desiring to know whether or not he was or would be prepared for the journey. The doctor, struck with the manner, as well as the matter, of this intimation, went immediately to Pallet's room, and demanded to know the cause of such a sudden determination, without his privity or concurrence; and when he understood the necessity of their affairs, rather than travel by himself, he ordered his baggage to be packed up, and signified his readiness to conform to the emergency of the case; though he was not at all pleased with the It was about eleven o'clock at night when cavalier behaviour of Pallet, to whom he they arrived at Senlis, which was the place threw out some hints of his own importance, at which they proposed to lodge, and where and the immensity of his condescension, in they were obliged to knock up the people of favouring him with such marks of regard. the inn, before they could have their supper But by this time these insinuations had lost prepared. All the provision in the house their effect upon the painter, who told him, was but barely sufficient to furnish one inwith an arch sneer, that he did not at all different meal: however, the painter consolquestion his learning and abilities, and parti-ed himself for the quantity with the quality cularly his skill in cookery, which he should never forget while his palate retained its function; but nevertheless advised him, for the sake of the degenerate eaters of these days, to spare a little of his sal armoniac in the next sillykickaby he should prepare, and bate somewhat of the devil's dung, which he had so plentifully crammed into the roasted fowls, unless he had a mind to convert his guests into patients, with a view of licking

of the dishes, one of which was a fricassee of rabbit, a preparation which he valued above all the dainties that ever smoked upon the table of the sumptuous Heliogabalus.

He had no sooner expressed himself to this effect, than our hero, who was almost incessantly laying traps for diversion at his neighbour's expense, laid hold on the declaration; and, recollecting the story of Scipio and the muleteer in Gil Blas, resolved to perpetrate a

joke upon the stomach of Pallet, which belly seemed to move in contact with his seemed particularly well disposed to an back-bone, his colour changed, no part but hearty supper. He accordingly digested his the white of his eyes were to be seen, he plan; and, the company being seated at dropped his lower jaw, and fixing his hands table, affected to gaze with peculiar eagerness in his sides, retched with such convulsive at the painter, who had helped himself to a agonies, as amazed and disconcerted the large portion of the fricassee, and began to whole company; and what augmented his swallow it with infinite relish. Pallet, not-disorder, was the tenacious retention of his withstanding the keenness of his appetite, could not help taking notice of Pickle's demeanour; and, making a short pause in the exercise of his grinders, "You are surprised," said he, "to see me make so much dispatch: but I was extremely hungry, and this is one of the best fricassees I ever tasted: the French are very expert in these dishes, that I must allow; and, upon my conscience, I would never desire to eat a more delicate rabbit than this that lies upon my plate."

stomach, which absolutely refused to part with its contents, notwithstanding all the energy of his abhorrence, which threw him into a cold sweat, and almost into a swoon.

Pickle, alarmed at his condition, assured him it was a genuine rabbit, and that he had tutored Pipes to say otherwise, for the joke's sake. But this confession he considered as a friendly artifice of Pickle's compassion, and therefore it had little effect upon his constitution. By the assistance, however, of a large bumper of brandy, his spirits were recruited, and his recollection so far recovered, that he was able to declare, with divers contortions of face, that the dish had a particular rankness of taste which he had imputed partly to the nature of the French coney, and partly to the composition of their sauces: then he inveighed against the infamous practices of French publicans, attributing such imposition to their oppressive

that they were tempted to exercise all manner of knavery upon their unwary guests.

Peregrine made no other reply to this encomium, than the repetition of the word "rabbit!" with a note of admiration, and such a significant shake of the head, as effectually alarmed the other, who instantly suspended the action of his jaws, and, with the morsel half chewed in his mouth, stared round him with a certain stolidity of apprehension, which is easier conceived than described, until his eyes encountered the countenance of Thomas Pipes, who being in-government, which kept them so necessitous, structed, and posted opposite to him for the occasion, exhibited an arch grin, that completed the painter's disorder. Afraid of swallowing his mouthful, and ashamed to dispose of it any other way, he sat some time in a most distressed state of suspense; and, being questioned by Mr Jolter touching his calamity, made a violent effort of the muscles of his gullet, which with difficulty performed their office, and then, with great confusion and concern, asked if Mr Pickle suspected the rabbit's identity. The young gentleman, assuming a mysterious air, pretended ignorance of the matter; observing, that he was apt to suspect all dishes of that kind, since he had been informed of the tricks which were commonly played at inns in France, Italy, and Spain, and recounted that passage in Gil Blas, which we have hinted at above, saying, he did not pretend to be a connoisseur in animals, but the legs of the creature which composed that fric. assee, did not, in his opinion, resemble those of the rabbits he had usually seen. This observation had an evident effect upon the features of the painter, who, with certain signs of loathing and astonishment, exclaimed, "Lord Jesus!" and appealed to Pipes for a discovery of the truth, by asking if he knew any thing of the affair. Tom very gravely replied, that he did suppose the food was wholesome enough, for he had seen the skin and feet of a special ram-cat, new flea'd, hanging upon the door of a small pantry adjoining to the kitchen.

Before this sentence was uttered, Pallet's

Jolter, who could not find in his heart to let slip any opportunity of speaking in favour of the French, told him, "that he was a very great stranger to their police, else he would know, that, if upon information to the magistrate, it should appear that any traveller, native or foreigner, had been imposed upon or ill-treated by a publican, the offender would be immediately obliged to shut up his house; and, if his behaviour had been notorious, he himself would be sent to the galleys, without the least hesitation; and, as for the dish which has been made the occasion of your present disorder," said he, “I will take upon me to affirm it was prepared of a genuine rabbit, which was skinned in my presence; and, in confirmation of what I assert, though such fricassees are not the favourite of my taste, I will eat a part of this without scruple." So saying, he swallowed several mouthfuls of the questioned coney, and Pallet seemed to eye it again with inclination; nay he even resumed his knife and fork, and being just on the point of applying them, was seized with another qualm of apprehension, that broke out in an exclamation of, "After all, Mr Jolter, if it should be a real ram-cat-Lord have mercy upon me! here is one of the claws." With these words he presented the tip of a toe, of which Pipes had slipped off five or six from a duck that was roasted, and purposely scattered them in the fricassee; and the governor could not behold this testimonial without symptoms of uneasiness and re

Before they reached Arras, the city gates were shut, so that they were obliged to take up their lodging at an indifferent house in the suburbs, where they found a couple of French officers, who had also rode post from Paris so far on their way to Lisle. These gentlemen were about the age of thirty, and their deportment distinguished by such an air of Nor is the physician sacred from his ridi- insolence, as disgusted our hero, who nevercule-they reach Arras, where our adven-theless accosted them politely in the yard, and turer engages in play with two. French proposed that they should sup together. officers, who next morning give the land- They thanked him for the honour of his inlord an interesting proof of their im- vitation, which, however, they declined, upon portance. pretence of having ordered something for themselves, but promised to wait upon him and his company immediately after their repast.

to what shifts a subaltern in the French ser- | vice is reduced, in order to maintain the appearance of a gentleman, and had reason to believe that most of them were sharpers from their youth: but, as he depended a good deal upon his own penetration and address, he gratified the stranger's desire; and a party was instantly formed of the painter, the physician, the proposer and himself, the other officer having professed himself utterly ignorant of the game; yet, in the course of the play, he took his station at the back of Pickle's chair, which was opposite to his friend, on pretence of amusing himself with seeing his manner of conducting the cards. The youth was not such a novice but that he perceived the design of this palpable piece of behaviour, which, notwithstanding, he overlooked for the present, with a view of flattering their hopes in the beginning, that they might be the more effectually punished by their disappointment in the end.

The game was scarce begun, when, by the reflection of a glass, he discerned the officer at his back making signs to his companion, who, by these preconcerted gestures, was perfectly informed of the contents of Peregrine's hand, and of consequence fortunate in the course of the play.

Thus they were allowed to enjoy the fruits of their dexterity, until their money amounted to some louis, when our young gentleman, thinking it high time to do himself justice, signified, in very polite terms, to the gentleman that stood behind him, that he could never play with ease and deliberation when he was overlooked by any bystander, and begged that he would have the goodness to be seated.

men, the money was not refunded without a thousand disputes, in the course of which he essayed to intimidate his antagonist with high words, which were retorted by our hero with such interest, as convinced him that he had mistaken his man, and persuaded him to make his retreat in quiet. Indeed it was not without cause that they repined at the bad success of their enterprise; because, in all likelihood, they had nothing to depend upon for the present but their own industry, and knew not how to defray their expenses on the road, except by some acquisition of this kind.

Next morning they rose at day-break, and, resolving to anticipate their fellow-lodgers, bespoke post horses as soon as they could be admitted into the city; so that, when our company appeared, their beasts were ready in the yard; and they only waited to discuss the bill, which they had ordered to be made out. The landlord of the inn presented his carte with fear and trembling to one of those ferocious cavaliers, who no sooner cast his eye on the sum total, than he discharged a volley of dreadful oaths, and asked if the king's officers were to be treated in that manner. The poor publican protested, with great humility, that he had the utmost respect for his majesty, and every thing that belonged to him; and that, far from consulting his own interest, all that he desired was to be barely indemnified for the expense of their lodging.

This condescension seemed to have no other effect than that of encouraging their arrogance. They swore his extortion should be explained to the commandant of the town, who would, by making him a public example, teach other inn-keepers how to behave to

As this was a remonstrance which the stranger could not with any show of breed-wards men of honour; and threatened with ing resist, he asked pardon, and retired to the chair of the physician, who frankly told him, that it was not the fashion of his country for one to submit his hand to the perusal of a spectator; and when, in consequence of this rebuff, he wanted to quarter himself upon the painter, he was refused by a wave of the hand, and shake of the head, with an exclamation of pardonnez moi! which was repeated with such emphasis, as discomposed his effrontery, and he found himself obliged to sit down in a state of mortification.

such confidence of indignation, that the wretched landlord, dreading the consequence of their wrath, implored pardon in the most abject manner, begging, with many supplications, that he might have the pleasure of lodging them at his own charge. This was a favour which he with great difficulty obtained; they chid him severely for his imposition, exhorted him to have more regard for his own conscience, as well as for the convenience of his guests; and cautioning him in particular touching his behaviour to the The odds being thus removed, fortune pro- gentlemen of the army, mounted their horses, ceeded in her usual channel; and though the and rode off in great state, leaving him very Frenchman, deprived of his ally, endeavoured thankful for having so successfully appeased to practice divers strokes of finesse, the rest the choler of two officers, who wanted either of the company observed him with such vigi- inclination or ability to pay their bill; for lance and caution as baffled all his attempts, experience had taught him to be apprehenand in a very little time he was compelled to sive of all such travellers, who commonly part with his winning: but having engaged in lay the landlord under contribution, by way the match with an intention of taking all ad- of atonement for the extravagance of his devantages, whether fair or unfair, that his su-mands, even after he has professed his willperior skill should give him over the English- ingness to entertain them on their own terms.

CHAPTER L.

Peregrine moralizes upon their behaviour, which is condemned by the doctor, and defended by the governor-they arrive in safety at Lisle, dine at an ordinary, visit | the citadel-the physician quarrels with a North Briton, who is put in arrest.

gree of delinquency. He said, that the greatest man in Athens would have been condemned to perpetual exile, and seen his estate confiscated for public use, had he dared in such a licentious manner to violate the rights of a fellow-citizen; and as for the little affronts to which a man may be subject from the petulance of the multitude, he looked upon them as glorious indications of liberty, which ought not to be repressed, and would at any time rejoice to find himself overthrown in a kennel by the insolence of a son of freedom, even though the fall should cost him a limb; adding, by way of illustration, that the greatest pleasure he ever en

turn a gentleman's coach, in which two ladies were bruised, even to the danger of their lives. Pallet, shocked at the extravagance of this declaration,-" If that be the case," said he, "I wish you may see every bone in your body broke by the first carman you meet in the streets of London.”

THESE honourable adventurers being gone, Peregrine, who was present during the transaction, informed himself of the particulars from the mouth of the inkeeper himself, who took God and the saints to witness, that he should have been a looser by their custom,joyed was in seeing a dustman wilfully overeven if the bill had been paid; because he was on his guard against their objections, and had charged every article at an under price: but such was the authority of officers in France, that he durst not dispute the least circumstance of their will; for, had the case come under the cognizance of the magistrate, he must in course have suffered by the maxims of their government, which never fail to abet the oppression of the army; and besides run the risk of incurring their future resentment, which would be sufficient to ruin him from top to bottom.

:

This argument being discussed, and the reckoning discharged without any deduction, although the landlord, in stating the articles, had an eye to the loss he had sustained by his own countrymen, they departed from Arras, and arrived in safety at Lisle, about two o'clock in the afternoon.

They had scarce taken possession of their lodgings, in a large hotel in the Grande Place, when the inkeeper gave them to understand that he kept an ordinary below, which was frequented by several English gentlemen who resided in town, and that dinner was then upon the table. Peregrine, who seized all opportunities of observing new characters, persuaded his company to dine in

Our hero boiled with indignation at this instance of injustice and arbitrary power; and, turning to his governor, asked if this too was a proof of the happiness enjoyed by the French people. Jolter replied, that every human constitution must in some things be imperfect; and owned, that in this kingdom gentlemen were more countenanced than the vulgar, because it was to be presumed that their own sentiments of honour and superior qualifications would entitle them to this pre-public; and they were accordingly conducteminence, which had also a retrospective ed to the place, where they found a mixture view to the merit of their ancestors, in con- of Scotch and Dutch officers, who had come sideration of which they were at first enno- from Holland to learn their exercises at the bled but he affirmed that the innkeeper had academy, and some gentlemen in the French misrepresented the magistracy, which in service, who were upon garrison duty in the France never failed to punish flagrant out- citadel. Among these last was a person rages and abuse, without respect of persons. about the age of fifty, of a remarkable genThe painter approved of the wisdom of teel air and polite address, dignified with a the French government in bridling the inso- Maltese cross, and distinguished by the parlence of the mob, by which, he assured them, ticular veneration of all those who knew him. he had often suffered in his own person; When he understood that Pickle and his having been often bespattered by hackney- friends were travellers, he accosted the youth coachmen, jostled by draymen and porters, in English, which he spoke tolerably well; and reviled in the most opprobrious terms by and, as they were strangers, offered to attend the watermen of London, where he had once them in the afternoon to all the places worth lost his bag and a considerable quantity of seeing in Lisle. Our hero thanked him for hair, which had been cut off by some rascal his excess of politeness, which (he said) was in his passage through Ludgate, during the peculiar to the French nation; and, struck lord mayor's procession. On the other hand, with his engaging appearance, industriously the doctor, with great warmth, alleged, that courted his conversation, in the course of those officers ought to suffer death, or ban- which he learned that this chevalier was a ishment at least, for having plundered the man of good sense and great experience, that people in this manner, which was so impu- he was perfectly well acquainted with the dent and barefaced, as plainly to prove they greatest part of Europe, had lived some were certain of escaping with impunity, and years in England, and was no stranger to the that they were old offenders in the same de-constitution and genius of that people.