ok the lips of the poor
challenger, who, with the most abject submission, begged pardon for
his presumption, and with difficulty obtained it, on condition that he
should immediately quit the place. Having thus exercised his authority,
he turned to one of his companions, and, with an air of disdainful
ridicule, told him he was like to have had an affair with a bourgeois;
adding, by way of heightening the irony, "Egad! I believe he is a
physician."

Our hero was so much shocked and irritated at this licentious behaviour,
that he could not suppress his resentment, which he manifested by saying
to this Hector, "Sir, a physician may be a man of honour." To this
remonstrance, which was delivered with a very significant countenance,
the mousquetaire made no other reply, but that of echoing his assertion
with a loud laugh, in which he was joined by his confederates.
Peregrine, glowing with resentment, called him a fanfaron, and withdrew
in expectation of being followed into the street. The other understood
the hint; and a rencounter must have ensued had not the officer of the
guard, who overheard what passed, prevented their meeting, by putting
the mousquetaire immediately under arrest. Our young gentleman waited at
the door of the parterre, until he was informed of this interposition,
and then went home very much chagrined at his disappointment; for he was
an utter stranger to fear and diffidence on those occasions, and had set
his heart upon chastising the insolence of this bully, who had treated
him with such disrespect.

This adventure was not so private but that it reached the ears of Mr.
Jolter by the canal of some English gentlemen who were present when it
happened; and the governor, who entertained a most dreadful idea of
the mousquetaires, being alarmed at a quarrel, the consequence of which
might be fatal to his charge, waited on the British ambassador, and
begged he would take Peregrine under his immediate protection. His
excellency, having heard the circumstances of the dispute, sent one of
his gentlemen to invite the youth to dinner; and after having assured
him that he might depend upon his countenance and regard, represented
the rashness and impetuosity of his conduct so much to his conviction,
that he promised to act more circumspectly for the future, and drop all
thoughts of the mousquetaire from that moment.

A few days after he had taken this laudable resolution, Pipes, who had
carried a billet to his mist