nst another,
three times round the course; and our adventurer had the satisfaction of
seeing his antagonist distanced in the first and second heat; but, all
of a sudden, one of the horses of his machine was knocked up, by which
accident the victory was ravished almost from his very grasp, and he was
obliged to endure the damage and the scorn.

He was deeply affected with this misfortune, which he imputed to his
own extravagance and temerity; but discovered no external signs of
affliction, because his illustrious partner bore his loss with the most
philosophic resignation, consoling himself, as well as Pickle, with the
hope of making it up on some other occasion. Nevertheless, our young
gentleman could not help admiring, and even envying his equanimity, not
knowing that his lordship had managed matters so as to be a gainer by
the misfortune; which to retrieve, Peregrine purchased several horses,
at the recommendation of his friend; and, instead of returning to
London, made a tour with him to all the celebrated races in England, at
which, after several vicissitudes of fortune, he made shift, before the
end of the season, to treble his loss.

But his hopes seemed to increase with his ill-luck. In the beginning of
winter he came to town, fully persuaded that fortune must necessarily
change, and that next season he should reap the happy fruits of his
experience. In this confidence, he seemed to drown all ideas of prudence
and economy. His former expense was mere parsimony, compared with that
which he now incurred. He subscribed to the opera, and half a dozen
concerts at different parts of the town; was a benefactor to several
hospitals; purchased a collection of valuable pictures; took a house,
and furnished it in a most magnificent taste, laid in a large stock
of French wines, and gave extravagant entertainments to his quality
friends, who, in return, loaded him with compliments, and insisted upon
his making use of their interest and goodwill.

CHAPTER LXXXIX.

He is taken into the Protection of a great Man--Sets up for a Member
of Parliament--Is disappointed in his Expectation, and finds himself
egregiously outwitted.

Among these professed patrons, the greatest part of whom Peregrine
saw through, there was one great personage, who seemed to support with
dignity the sphere in which fortune had placed him. His behaviour to
Pickle was not a series of grinning complaisance in a flat repetition of
general expre