s made the lights dance before him, and created such a
suspicion of Pallet's sex, that the Frenchman swore he was either a male
or a hermaphrodite, and insisted upon a scrutiny, for the sake of his
own honour, with such obstinacy of resentment, that the nymph was in
imminent danger, not only of being exposed, but also undergoing severe
chastisement, for having made so free with the prince's ear; when
Peregrine, who saw and overheard everything that passed, thought it was
high time to interpose; and accordingly asserted his pretensions to the
insulted lady, who was overjoyed at this proof of his protection.

The affronted gallant persevered in demanding to know who she was, and
our hero as strenuously refused to give him that satisfaction: so that
high words ensued; and the prince threatening to punish his insolence,
the young gentleman, who was not supposed to know his quality, pointed
to the place where his own sword used to hang, and, snapping his fingers
in his face, laid hold on the painter's arm, and led him to another
part of the room, leaving his antagonist to the meditations of his own
revenge.

Pallet, having chid his conductor for his barbarous desertion, made him
acquainted with the difficulty in which he had been involved; and flatly
telling him he would not put it in his power to give him the slip again,
held fast by his arm during the remaining part of the entertainment, to
the no small diversion of the company, whose attention was altogether
engrossed in the contemplation of such an awkward, ungainly, stalking
apparition. At last Pickle, being tired of exhibiting this raree-show,
complied with the repeated desires of his companion, and handed her
into the coach; which he himself had no sooner entered, than they
were surrounded by a file of musqueteers, commanded by an exempt,
who, ordering the coach-door to be opened, took his place with great
deliberation, while one of his detachment mounted the box, in order to
direct the driver.

Peregrine at once conceived the meaning of this arrest, and it was well
for him that he had no weapon wherewith to stand upon his defence; for
such was the impetuosity and rashness of his temper, that, had he been
armed, he would have run all risks rather than surrender himself to any
odds whatever; but Pallet, imagining that the officer was some gentleman
who had mistaken their carriage for his own, desired his friend to
undeceive the stranger; and when he was informed of t