 of our hero,
whom the nobleman carried home that same evening, and introduced to his lady,
and several persons of fashion who supped at his house. Peregrine was quite
captivated by their affable behaviour and the vivacity of their discourse; and
after having been honoured with particular marks of consideration, took his
leave, fully determined to cultivate such a valuable acquaintance.
    His vanity suggested, that now the time was come when he should profit by
his talents among the fair sex, on whom he resolved to employ his utmost art and
address. With this view he assiduously engaged in all parties to which he had
access, by means of his noble friend, who let slip no opportunity of gratifying
his ambition. He for some time shared in all his amusements, and was entertained
in many of the best families of France; but he did not long enjoy that elevation
of hope which had flattered his imagination. He soon perceived that it would be
impossible to maintain the honourable connexions he had made, without engaging
every day at quadrille, or in other words, losing his money; for every person of
rank, whether male or female, was a professed gamester, who knew and practised
all the finesse of the art, of which he was intirely ignorant. Besides, he began
to find himself a meer novice in French gallantry, which is supported by an
amazing volubility of tongue, an obsequious and incredible attention to trifles,
a surprising faculty of laughing out of pure complaisance, and a nothingness of
conversation, which he could never attain. In short, our hero, who among his own
countrymen would have passed for a sprightly entertaining fellow, was considered
in the brilliant assemblies of France as a youth of a very phlegmatic
disposition. No wonder then that his pride was mortified at his own want of
importance, which he did not fail to ascribe to their defect in point of
judgment and taste: he conceived a disgust at the mercenary conduct, as well as
the shallow intellects of the ladies; and after he had spent some months, and a
round sum of money, in fruitless attendance and addresses, he fairly quitted the
pursuit, and consoled himself with the conversation of a merry Fille de joye,
whose good graces he acquired by an allowance of twenty Louis per month; and
that he might the more easily afford this expence, dismissed his chariot and
French lacquey at the same time.
    He then entered himself in a noted academy, in order to finish his
exercises, and contracted an acquaintance with a few sensible people, whom he
distinguished at the coffee-house and ordinary to which he resorted, and
