Paris, where they arrived in the evening, and hired apartments at an
hotel in the Faubourg St. Germaine, not far from the playhouse.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

He is involved in an Adventure at Paris, and taken prisoner by the City
Guard--Becomes acquainted with a French Nobleman, who introduces him in
the Beau Monde.

They were no sooner settled in these lodgings, than our hero wrote to
his uncle an account of their safe arrival, and sent another letter to
his friend Gauntlet, with a very tender billet inclosed for his dear
Emilia, to whom he repeated all his former vows of constancy and love.

The next care that engrossed him was that of bespeaking several suits
of clothes suitable to the French mode; and, in the mean time, he never
appeared abroad, except in the English coffee-house, where he soon
became acquainted with some of his own countrymen, who were at Paris on
the same footing with himself. The third evening after his journey, he
was engaged in a party of those young sparks, at the house of a noted
traiteur, whose wife was remarkably handsome, and otherwise extremely
well qualified for alluring customers to her house. To this lady our
young gentleman was introduced as a stranger fresh from England; and
he was charmed with her personal accomplishments, as well as with the
freedom and gaiety of her conversation. Her frank deportment persuaded
him that she was one of those kind creatures who granted favours to the
best bidder: on this supposition he began to be so importunate in
his addresses, that the fair bourgeoise was compelled to cry aloud
in defence of her own virtue. Her husband ran immediately to her
assistance, and finding her in a very alarming situation, flew upon her
ravisher with such fury, that he was fain to quit his prey, and turn
against the exasperated traiteur, whom he punished without mercy for
his impudent intrusion. The lady, seeing her yoke-fellow treated with
so little respect, espoused his cause, and, fixing her nails in his
antagonist's face, sacrificed all one side of his nose. The noise of
this encounter brought all the servants of the house to the rescue of
their master; and Peregrine's company opposing them, a general battle
ensued, in which the French were totally routed, the wife insulted, and
the husband kicked downstairs.

The publican, enraged at the indignity which had been offered to him and
his family, went out into the street, and implored the protection of
the guet,