the behaviour of all present.

CHAPTER XLV.

The Painter is persuaded to accompany Pickle to a Masquerade in
Woman's Apparel---Is engaged in a troublesome Adventure, and, with his
Companion, conveyed to the Bastille.

The painter, at the request of Pickle, who had a design upon the count's
sense of hearing, favoured the company with the song of Bumper Squire
Jones, which yielded infinite satisfaction to the baron, but affected
the delicate ears of the Italian in such a manner, that his features
expressed astonishment and disquiet; and by his sudden and repeated
journeys to the door, it plainly appeared, that he was in the same
predicament with those who, as Shakespeare observes, "when the bagpipe
sings in the nose, cannot contain their urine for affection."

With a view, therefore, of vindicating music from such a barbarous
taste. Mr. Pallet had no sooner performed his task, than the count
honoured his friends with some favourite airs of his own country, which
he warbled with infinite grace and expression, though he had not energy
sufficient to engage the attention of the German, who fell fast asleep
upon his couch, and snored so loud, as to interrupt, and totally annul,
this ravishing entertainment; so that they were fain to have recourse
again to the glass, which made such innovation upon the brain of the
physician, that he sang divers odes of Anacreon to a tune of his own
composing, and held forth upon the music and recitative of the ancients
with great erudition; while Pallet, having found means to make the
Italian acquainted with the nature of his profession, harangued upon
painting with wonderful volubility, in a language which (it was well for
his own credit) the stranger did not understand.

At length the doctor was seized with such a qualm, that he begged
Peregrine to lead him to his chamber; and the baron, being waked,
retired with the count. Peregrine, being rendered frolicsome with
the wine he had drunk, proposed that he and Pallet should go to a
masquerade, which he recollected was to be given that night. The painter
did not want curiosity and inclination to accompany him, but expressed
his apprehension of losing him in the ball; an accident which could
not fail to be very disagreeable, as he was an utter stranger to the
language and the town. To obviate this objection, the landlady, who was
of their council, advised him to appear in a woman's dress, which would
lay his companion under the n