 upon his youth, and was willing to spare him, if he would
surrender his sword, and promise to ask pardon in public for the offence he had
given. Pickle was so much exasperated at this unparallelled effrontery, that,
without deigning to make the least reply, he flung his own hat in the proposer's
face, and renewed the charge with such undaunted agility, that the gamester,
finding himself in manifest hazard of his life, betook himself to his heels, and
fled homewards with incredible speed, being closely pursued by Peregrine, who
having sheathed his sword, pelted him with stones as he ran, and compelled him
to go, that same day, into banishment from Bath, where he had domineered so
long.
    By this atchievement, which was the subject of astonishment to all the
company, who had looked upon the fugitive as a person of heroic courage, our
adventurer's reputation was rendered formidable in all its circumstances;
although he thereby disobliged a good many people of fashion, who had contracted
an intimacy of friendship with the exile, and who resented his disgrace, as if
it had been the misfortune of a worthy man. These generous patrons, however,
bore a very small proportion to those who were pleased with the event of the
duel; because, in the course of their residence at Bath, they had either been
insulted or defrauded by the challenger. Nor was this instance of our hero's
courage unacceptable to the ladies, few of whom could now resist the united
force of such accomplishments. Indeed, neither he nor his friend Godfrey would
have found much difficulty in picking up an agreeable companion for life; but
Gauntlet's heart was pre-engaged to Sophy; and Pickle, exclusive of his
attachment to Emily, which was stronger than he himself imagined, possessed such
a share of ambition, as could not be satisfied with the conquest of any female
he beheld at Bath.
    His visits were, therefore, promiscuous, without any other view than that of
amusement; and though his pride was flattered by the advances of the fair whom
he had captivated, he never harboured one thought of proceeding beyond the
limits of common gallantry, and carefully avoided all particular explanations.
But, what above all other enjoyments yielded him the most agreeable
entertainment, was the secret history of characters, which he learn'd from a
very extraordinary person, with whom he became acquainted in this manner.
    Being at the house of a certain lady, on a visiting-day, he was struck with
the appearance of an old man, who no sooner entered the room than the
