te
of despair, and obtained a promise of his making such an effectual
inquiry, that in three days he should have an account of her, provided
she was alive, and within the walls of Paris.

Our adventurer, who had foreseen all this disturbance, was not at all
surprised when his governor told him what had happened, and conjured
him to restore the woman to the right owner, with many pathetic
remonstrances touching the heinous sin of adultery, the distraction of
the unfortunate husband, and the danger of incurring the resentment of
an arbitrary government, which, upon application being made would
not fail of espousing the cause of the injured. He denied, with great
effrontery, that he had the least concern in the matter, pretended to
resent the deportment of Hornbeck, whom he threatened to chastise for
his scandalous suspicion, and expressed his displeasure at the credulity
of Jolter, who seemed to doubt the veracity of his asseveration.

Notwithstanding this confident behaviour, Jolter could not help
entertaining doubts of his sincerity, and, visiting the disconsolate
swain, begged he would, for the honour of his country, as well as
for the sake of his own reputation, discontinue his addresses to the
lieutenant de police, and apply to the British ambassador, who, by dint
of friendly admonitions, would certainly prevail upon Mr. Pickle to do
him all the justice in his power, if he was really the author of
the injury he had sustained. The governor urged this advice with the
appearance of so much sympathy and concern, promising to co-operate
within his influence in his behalf, that Hornbeck embraced the proposal,
communicated his purpose to the magistrate, who commended the resolution
as the most decent and desirable expedient he could use, and then waited
upon his excellency, who readily espoused his cause, and sending for the
young gentleman that same evening, read him such a lecture in private,
as extorted a confession of the whole affair. Not that he assailed him
with sour and supercilious maxims, or severe rebuke; because he
had penetration enough to discern that Peregrine's disposition was
impregnable to all such attacks; but he first of all rallied him on his
intriguing genius; then, in a humorous manner, described the distraction
of the poor cuckold, who he owned was justly punished for the absurdity
of his conduct; and lastly, upon the supposition that it would be no
great effort in Pickle to part with such a conques