 and its consequence, was
confounded when the wrinkled turnkey refused to admit him to the grate, telling
him, that his impious contrivance had come to light; that the lewd young woman,
for whose sake he had been guilty of such a flagrant crime, was banished from
the convent; and that if ever he should make another attempt to disturb the
tranquillity of their retreat, a formal complaint would be preferred against him
to the civil magistrate.
    Thunderstruck with this reception, he did not think proper to advance any
thing in his own vindication, but retreated with all convenient dispatch, not
ill pleased at the issue of an adventure which might have proved not only
disagreeable, but dangerous in the highest degree. He at once conjectured, that
the mutual jealousy of the ladies had betrayed the intrigue; and imagined, that
now his charmer was delivered from the restrictions of a convent, she would be
more accessible to his endeavours. On this supposition, he sent his couriers
upon the scout; and as he knew her name, it was not long before he learnt, from
their artful inquiries, that immediately after her dismission from one nunnery,
she had been entered in another at Ghent, in consequence of the superior's
advice, and in all likelihood would be compelled to take the veil by her
guardians, who were remarkably zealous for the welfare of her soul.
 

                                 Chapter LXVII

The Travellers depart for Antwerp, at which Place the Painter gives a Loose to
his Enthusiasm
 
Our adventurer thus deprived of an agreeable correspondence, and baffled in all
his efforts to retrieve the other object of his passion, yielded at length to
the remonstrances of his governor and fellow-travellers, who, out of pure
complaisance to him, had exceeded their intended stay by six days at least: and
a couple of post-chaises, with three riding-horses, being hired, they departed
from Brussels in the morning, dined at Mechlin, and arrived about eight in the
evening at the venerable city of Antwerp. During this day's journey, Pallet was
elevated to an uncommon flow of spirits, with the prospect of seeing the
birth-place of Rubens, for whom he professed an enthusiastic admiration. He
swore, that the pleasure he felt was equal to that of a Mussulman, on the last
day of his pilgrimage to Mecca; and that he already considered himself a native
of Antwerp, being so intimately acquainted with their so justly boasted citizen,
from whom, at certain junctures, he could not help believing himself derived,
because his own pencil adopted the manner of that great man with surprising
facility, and his face
