 artillery into Flanders, which was often the seat of war; his competitor
in wit replied with infinite vivacity, »There are more great guns than the
French king knows of drawn along this causeway, doctor.«
    Encouraged by the success of these efforts, which tickled the imagination of
Jolter, and drew smiles (as he imagined) of approbation from our hero, he
sported in many other æquivoques of the same nature; and at dinner told the
physician, that he was like the root of the tongue, as being cursedly down in
the mouth.
    By this time, such was the animosity subsisting between these quondam
friends, that they never conversed together, except with a view of exposing each
other to the ridicule or contempt of their fellow-travellers. The doctor was at
great pains to point out the folly and ignorance of Pallet in private to
Peregrine, who was often conjured in the same manner by the painter, to take
notice of the physician's want of manners and taste. Pickle pretended to
acquiesce in the truth of their mutual severity, which indeed was extremely
just, and by malicious insinuations blew up their contention, with a view of
bringing it to open hostility. But, both seemed so averse to deeds of mortal
purpose, that for a long time his arts were baffled, and he could not spirit
them up to any pitch of resentment higher than scurrilous repartee.
    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 insolence, as disgusted our
hero, who, nevertheless, accosted them politely in the yard, and proposed that
they should sup together. They thanked him for the honour of his invitation,
which, however, they declined, upon pretence of having ordered something for
themselves; but promised to wait upon him and his company immediately after
their repast.
    This they accordingly performed; and after having drank a few glasses of
Burgundy, one of them asked, if the young gentleman would, for pastime, take an
hand at quadrille. Peregrine easily divined the meaning of this proposal, which
was made with no other view than that of fleecing him and his fellow-travellers;
for he well knew to what shifts a subaltern in the French service is reduced, in
order to maintain the appearance of a gentleman, and had reason to believe that
