ss of one who adored her with such a flame as could not fail to
consume his vitals, if she would not deign to bless him with her favour.

Notwithstanding all his tears, vows, and supplications, his personal
accomplishments, and the tempting opportunity, all that he could obtain
was an acknowledgment of his having made an impression upon her heart,
which she hoped the dictates of her duty would enable her to erase. This
confession he considered as a delicate consent; and, obeying the impulse
of his love, snatched her up in his arms, with an intention of seizing
that which she declined to give; when this French Lucretia, unable
to defend her virtue any other way, screamed aloud; and the Capuchin,
setting his shoulder to the door, forced it open, and entered in an
affected ecstasy of amazement. He lifted up his hands and eyes, and
pretended to be thunderstruck at the discovery he had made; then in
broken exclamations, professed his horror at the wicked intention of our
hero, who had covered such a damnable scheme with the mask of religion.

In short, he performed his cue with such dexterity, that the lady,
believing him to be in earnest, begged he would forgive the stranger on
account of his youth and education, which had been tainted by the errors
of heresy; and he was on these considerations content to accept the
submission of our hero; who, far from renouncing his expectations,
notwithstanding this mortifying repulse, confided so much in his
own talents, and the confession which his mistress had made, that he
resolved to make another effort, to which nothing could have prompted
him but the utmost turbulence of unruly desire.

CHAPTER LIV.

He makes another Effort to towards the Accomplishment of his Wish, which
is postponed by a strange Accident.

He directed his valet-de-chambre, who was a thorough-paced pimp,
to kindle some straw in the yard, and then pass by the door of her
apartment, crying with a loud voice that the house was on fire.
This alarm brought both ladies out of their chamber in a moment, and
Peregrine, taking the advantage of their running to the street door,
entered the room, concealed himself under a large table that stood in an
unobserved corner. The nymphs, as soon as they understood the cause
of his Mercury's supposed affright, returned to their apartment, and,
having said their prayers, undressed themselves, and went to bed.
This scene, which fell under the observation of Pickle, did