 already
sufficiently chastised the presumption of the challenger, and was unwilling to
impower fortune to ravish from him the fruits of his success: he therefore
declined my lord's proposal, unless he would play for ready money; and his
lordship having in vain tried his credit among the company, our adventurer
withdrew, leaving him in an extasy of rage and disappointment.
    As the insolence of his behaviour had increased with his ill luck, and he
had given vent to divers expressions, which Peregrine took amiss, our young
gentleman resolved to augment his punishment, by teazing him with demands which
could not, he knew, be immediately satisfied; and next day, sent Pipes to his
father's house with the note, which was drawn payable upon demand. The debtor,
who had gone to bed half distracted with his misfortune, finding himself waked
with such a disagreeable dun, lost all patience, cursed Pickle, threatened his
messenger, blasphemed with horrible execrations, and made such a noise, as
reached the ears of his father, who ordering his son to be called into his
presence, examined him about the cause of that uproar, which had disturbed the
whole family. The young gentleman, after having essayed to amuse him with sundry
equivocations, which served only to increase his suspicion, and desire of
knowing the truth, acknowledged that he had lost some money overnight at cards,
to a gamester, who had been so impertinent as to send a message, demanding it
that morning, though he had told the fellow, it would not suit him to pay it
immediately. The father, who was a man of honour, reproached him with great
severity for his profligate behaviour in general, and this scandalous debt in
particular, which he believed to be some trifle, and giving him a bank note for
five hundred pounds, commanded him to go and discharge it, without loss of time.
This well-principled heir took the money, but instead of waiting upon his
creditor, he forthwith repaired to the gaming-house, in hopes of retrieving his
loss; and before he rose from the table, saw his note mortgaged for seven
eighths of its value.
    Mean while, Pickle, incensed at the treatment which his servant had
received, and informed of his lordship's second loss, which aggravated his
resentment, determined to preserve no medium; and taking out a writ that same
day, put it immediately in execution upon the body of his debtor, just as he
stepp'd into his chair, at the door of White's Chocolate-house. The prisoner
being naturally fierce and haughty,
