ed to his friend, and
enabled to gratify his love, even upon his own terms; and saw himself
in possession of a fortune more ample than his first inheritance, with
a stock of experience that would steer him clear of all those quicksands
among which he had been formerly wrecked.

In the middle of their journey, while they halted at an inn for a short
refreshment and change of horses, a postilion running up to Peregrine in
the yard, fell at his feet, clasped his knees with great eagerness
and agitation, and presented to him the individual face of his old
valet-de-chambre. The youth perceiving him in such an abject garb and
attitude, commanded him to rise and tell the cause of such a miserable
reverse in his fortune. Upon which Hadgi gave him to understand, that he
had been ruined by his wife, who, having robbed him of all his cash
and valuable effects, had eloped from his house with one of his own
customers, who appeared in the character of a French count, but was in
reality no other than an Italian fiddler; that, in consequence of this
retreat, he, the husband, was disabled from paying a considerable sum
which he had set apart for his wine merchant, who being disappointed in
his expectation, took out an execution against his 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. 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 meantime, he made him taste of his bounty, and desired
him to continue in his present employment until he should return from
the garrison, 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