 effects; and the rest of his creditors following his
example, hunted him out of house and home: so that, finding his person in danger
at London, he had been obliged to escape into the country, skulking about from
one village to another, till being quite destitute of all support, he had
undertaken his present office, to save himself from starving.
    Peregrine listened with compassion to his lamentable tale, which too well
accounted for his not appearing in the Fleet, with offers of service to his
master in distress, a circumstance that Pickle had all along imputed to his
avarice and ingratitude; and he assured him, that as he had been the means of
throwing in his way the temptation to which he fell a sacrifice, he would charge
himself with the retrieval of his affairs: in the mean time, he made him taste
of his bounty, and desired him to continue in his present employment, until he
should return from the garison, when he would consider his situation, and do
something for his immediate relief.
    Hadgi attempted to kiss his shoe, and wept, or affected to weep, with
sensibility, at this gracious reception; he even made a merit of his
unwillingness to exercise his new occupation, and earnestly begged that he might
be allowed to give immediate attendance upon his dear master, from whom he could
not bear the thoughts of a second parting. His intreaties were reinforced by the
intercession of his two friends, in consequence of which the Swiss was permitted
to follow them at his own leisure, while they set forwards, after a slight
repast, and reached the place of their destination before ten o'clock at night.
    Peregrine, instead of alighting at the garison, rode straightway to his
father's house; and no person appearing to receive him, not even a servant to
take care of his chaise, he dismounted without assistance, and being followed by
his two friends, advanced into the hall, where perceiving a bell-rope, he made
immediate application to it, in such a manner as brought a couple of footmen
into his presence. After having reprimanded them, with a stern look, for their
neglect, in point of attendance, he commanded them to shew him into an
apartment; and, as they seemed unwilling to yield obedience to his orders, asked
if they did not belong to the family?
    One of them, who took upon himself the office of spokesman, replied with a
sullen air, that they had been in the service of old Mr. Pickle, and now that he
was dead, thought themselves bound to obey no body but
