good night with another warm
squeeze, which she returned. This favourable hint made his heart bound
with a transport of joy: he lay in wait for an opportunity of declaring
himself; and seeing the husband go down into the yard with a candle,
glided softly into his apartment, where he found her almost undressed.
Impelled by the impetuosity of his passion, which was still more
inflamed by her present luscious appearance, and encouraged by
the approbation she had already expressed, he ran towards her with
eagerness, crying, "Zounds! madam, your charms are irresistible!" and
without further ceremony would have clasped her in his arms, had she not
begged him for the love of God to retire; for should Mr. Hornbeck return
and find him there, she would be undone for ever. He was not so blinded
by his passion, but that he saw the reasonableness of her fear; and as
he could not pretend to crown his wishes at that interview, he avowed
himself her lover, assured her that he would exhaust his whole invention
in finding a proper opportunity for throwing himself at her feet; and in
the mean time he ravished sundry small favours, which she in the hurry
of her fright, could not withhold from his impudence of address. Having
thus settled the preliminaries, he withdrew to his own chamber, and
spent the whole night in contriving stratagems to elude the jealous
caution of his fellow-traveller.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

They set out in company, breakfast at Abbeville, dine at Amiens and,
about eleven o'clock, arrive at Chantilly where Peregrine executes a
Plan which he had concerted upon Hornbeck.

The whole company by agreement rose and departed before day, and
breakfasted at Abbeville, where they became acquainted with the finesse
of their Bernay landlord, who had imposed upon them, in affirming that
they would not have been admitted after the gates were shut. From thence
they proceeded to Amiens, where they dined, and were pestered by begging
friars; and the roads being deep, it was eleven o'clock at night before
they reached Chantilly, where they found supper already dressed, in
consequence of having despatched the valet-de-chambre before them on
horseback.

The constitution of Hornbeck being very much impaired by a life of
irregularity, he found himself so fatigued with his day's journey, which
amounted to upwards of a hundred miles, that when he sat down at table,
he could scarce sit upright; and in less than three minutes began t