 and mortification, and left his antagonist exulting
o'er the victory he had won.
    While these things passed between these originals, Peregrine waited upon the
Embassador, 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 belonging to the British
court.
    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.
    It was about eleven o'clock at night when they arrived at Senlis, which was
the place at which they proposed to lodge, and where they were obliged to knock
up the people of the inn, before they could have their supper prepared. All the
provision in the house was but barely sufficient to furnish one indifferent
meal; however, the painter consoled himself for the quantity with the quality of
the dishes, one of which was a fricassee of rabbit, a preparation that he valued
above all the dainties that ever smoaked 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 expence, 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
seemed particularly well disposed to an hearty supper. He accordingly digested
his plan; and the company being seated at table, affected to gaze with peculiar
eagerness at the painter, who had helped himself to a large portion of the
fricassee, and began to swallow it with infinite relish. Pallet, notwithstanding
the keenness of his appetite, could not help taking notice of Pickle's
demeanour; and
