oman implements of war. This question was
answered by the physician, who described the nature of this expedient
so little to the satisfaction of the officer, that he contradicted him
flatly in the midst of his explanation; a circumstance which provoked
the republican to such a degree, that, in the temerity of his passion,
he uttered the epithet, "impertinent scoundrel;" which was no sooner
pronounced than the Caledonian made manual application to his nose, and,
leaping out of the coach, stood waiting for him on the plain; while he,
the physician, made feeble efforts to join him, being easily retained
by the other soldier; and Pallet, dreading the consequence in which he
himself might be involved, bellowed aloud for prevention.

Our hero endeavoured to quiet the commotion by representing to the Scot
that he had already taken satisfaction for the injury he had received,
and telling the doctor that he had deserved the chastisement which was
inflicted upon him; but the officer, encouraged perhaps by the confusion
of his antagonist, insisted upon his asking pardon for what he had said;
and the doctor, believing himself under the protection of his friend
Pickle, far from agreeing to such concession, breathed nothing but
defiance and revenge; so that the chevalier, in order to prevent
mischief, put the soldier under arrest, and sent him to his lodgings,
under the care of the other French gentleman and his own companion; they
being also accompanied by Mr. Jolter, who, having formerly seen all the
curiosities of Lisle, willingly surrendered his place to the physician.

CHAPTER LI.

Pickle engages with a Knight of Malta, in a Conversation upon the
English Stage, which is followed by a Dissertation on the Theatres of
the Ancients, by the Doctor.

The rest of the company proceeded to the arsenal, which having viewed,
together with some remarkable churches, they, in their return, went to
the comedy, and saw the Cid of Corneille tolerably well represented. In
consequence of this entertainment, the discourse at supper turned upon
dramatic performances; and all the objections of Monsieur Scudery to
the piece they had seen acted, together with the decision of the French
Academy, were canvassed and discussed. The knight was a man of letters
and taste, and particularly well acquainted with the state of the
English stage; so that when the painter boldly pronounced sentence
against the French manner of acting, on the strength o