nch service, who were upon
garrison duty in the citadel. Among these last was a person about the
age of fifty, of a remarkably genteel air and polite address, dignified
with a Maltese cross, and distinguished by the particular veneration of
all those who knew him. When he understood that Pickle and his friends
were travellers, he accosted the youth in English, which he spoke
tolerably well; and, as they were strangers, offered to attend them in
the afternoon to all the places worth seeing in Lisle. Our hero thanked
him for his excess of politeness, which, he said, was peculiar to the
French nation; and, struck with his engaging appearance, industriously
courted his conversation, in the course of which he learned that this
chevalier was a man of good sense and great experience, that he was
perfectly well acquainted with the greatest part of Europe, had lived
some years in England, and was no stranger to the constitution and
genius of that people.

Having dined, and drunk to the healths of the English and French kings,
two fiacres were called, in one of which the knight, with one of his
companions, the governor, and Peregrine seated themselves, the other
being occupied by the physician, Pallet, and two Scottish officers,
who proposed to accompany them in their circuit. The first place they
visited was the citadel, round the ramparts of which they walked,
under the conduct of the knight, who explained with great accuracy the
intention of every particular fortification belonging to that seemingly
impregnable fortress; and, when they had satisfied their curiosity,
took coach again, in order to view the arsenal, which stands in another
quarter of the town; but, just as Pickle's carriage had crossed the
promenade, he heard his own name bawled aloud by the painter; and,
ordering the fiacre to stop, saw Pallet, with one half of his body
thrust out at the window of the other coach, crying, with a terrified
look, "Mr. Pickle, Mr. Pickle, the for the love of God halt, and prevent
bloodshed, else here will be carnage and cutting of throats." Peregrine,
surprised at this exclamation, immediately alighted, and, advancing to
the other vehicle, found one of their military companions standing upon
the ground, at the farther side of the coach, with his sword drawn, and
fury in his countenance; and the physician, with a quivering lip, and
haggard aspect, struggling with the other, who had interposed in the
quarrel, and detained him in his