took their departure in two chaises,
escorted by the valet-de-chambre, Pipes, and the doctor's lacquey on
horseback, well furnished with arms and ammunition, in case of being
attacked by robbers on the road.

It was about eleven o'clock at night when they arrived at Senlis, which
was the place at which they proposed to lodge, and where they were
obliged to knock up the people of the inn, before they could have
their supper prepared. All the provision in the house was but barely
sufficient to furnish one indifferent meal: however, the painter
consoled himself for the quantity with the quality of the dishes, one of
which was a fricassee of rabbit, a preparation that he valued above
all the dainties that ever smoked upon the table of the sumptuous
Heliogabalus.

He had no sooner expressed himself to this effect, than our hero,
who almost incessantly laying traps for diversion at his neighbour's
expense, laid hold on the declaration; and, recollecting the story of
Scipio and the muleteer in Gil Blas, resolved to perpetrate a joke upon
the stomach of Pallet, which seemed well disposed to a hearty supper.
He, accordingly, digested his plan; and the company being seated at
table, affected to stare with peculiar eagerness at the painter, who had
helped himself to a large portion of the fricassee, and began to swallow
it with infinite relish. Pallet, notwithstanding the keenness of his
appetite, could not help taking notice of Pickle's demeanour; and,
making a short pause in the exercise of his grinders, "You are
surprised," said he, "to see me make so much despatch; but I was
extremely hungry, and this is one of the best fricassees I ever tasted:
the French are very expert in these dishes, that I must allow; and, upon
my conscience, I would never desire to eat a more delicate rabbit than
this that lies upon my plate."

Peregrine made no other reply to this encomium, than the repetition of
the word rabbit, with a note of admiration, and such a significant shake
of the head, as effectually alarmed the other, who instantly suspended
the action of his jaws, and, with the morsel half chewed in his mouth,
stared round him with a certain stolidity of apprehension, which
is easier conceived than described; until his eyes encountered the
countenance of Thomas Pipes, who, being instructed, and posted opposite
to him for the occasion, exhibited an arch grin, that completed the
painter's disorder. Afraid of swallowing his mouthful, and