 they had
access, almost every family in the county, might have had cause to rue their
acquaintance; but our adventurers, wild and licentious as they were, governed
their actions by certain notions of honour, which they never presumed to
infringe, and therefore, no domestic tragedies took rise from their behaviour.
    Among the lower class of people, they did not act with the same virtuous
moderation, but laid close siege to every buxom country damsel that fell in
their way; imagining that their dalliance with such Dulcineas could produce no
fatal effects; and that it would be in their power to attone for any damage
these inamoratas might sustain.
    In the prosecution of these amours, Gauntlet could not help discovering a
particular biass towards married women, and when questioned by his friend,
defended his singularity of taste, by observing that such connections, if
discreetly managed, are attended by none of those bad consequences which
commonly pursue an amorous correspondence with single persons; because the
wedded dame's fortune is already made, and her husband stands as a buttress
before her reputation.
    Though Peregrine could not approve of this maxim which the soldier had
adopted in the course of a military education, he could not avoid engaging as a
second and confidant to his friend, in an intrigue which he carried on with a
farmer's wife in the neighbourhood. Godfrey had practised all his arts in
attempting to overcome the chastity of this woman, who was an hale rosy wench,
lately married; and at length succeeded so far in his addresses, that she
promised to admit him one night when her husband would be absent on business,
which called him once a fortnight to the next market town.
    He communicated his good fortune to Perry, desiring that he would accompany
him to the place, in case of accident; and our young gentleman having undertaken
the office of standing centinel over his friend, while he should enjoy his
conquest, they set out at the time appointed, and arriving at the door, the
gallant made the signal which had been agreed upon, and was let in accordingly,
after having assured his confidant that he would be with him again in two hours
at farthest.
    Thus left to his own meditations, our hero began his patrole, beguiling the
time with the most amusing fancies of a glowing imagination, and enjoying by
anticipation all the pleasures attending affluence and youth, till at length his
reverie was interrupted by a plump shower that compelled him to seek for shelter
in a sort of shed, the door of which stood open to his view. Thither therefore
he betook himself, and groping about as he entered in
