was an inextricable mystery to every
individual in the diligence, because the part which was acted by the
Capuchin was known to himself alone, and even he was utterly ignorant
of Pickle's being concerned in the affair; so that the greatest share
of the painter's sufferings were supposed to be the exaggerations of his
own extravagant imagination.

In the midst of their discourse on this extraordinary subject, the
driver told them that they were now on the very spot where a detachment
of the allied army had been intercepted and cut off by the French: and,
stopping the vehicle, entertained them with a local description of the
battle of Melle. Upon this occasion, the Flemish lady, who, since her
marriage, had become a keen partisan for the French, gave a minute
detail of all the circumstances, as they had been represented to her by
her husband's brother, who was in the action. This account, which sunk
the number of the French to sixteen, and raised that of the allies to
twenty thousand men, was so disagreeable to truth, as well as to the
laudable partiality of Peregrine, that he ventured to contradict her
assertions, and a fierce dispute commenced, that not only regarded the
present question, but also comprehended all the battles in which the
Duke of Marlborough had commanded against Louis the Fourteenth. In the
course of these debates, she divested the great general of all the
glory he had acquired, by affirming, that every victory he gained was
purposely lost by the French in order to bring the schemes of Madame de
Maintenon into discredit; and, as a particular instance, alledged, that
while the citadel of Lisle was besieged, Louis said, in presence of the
Dauphin, that if the allies should be obliged to raise the siege, he
would immediately declare his marriage with that lady; upon which, the
son sent private orders to Marshal Boufflers to surrender the place.

This strange allegation was supported by the asseveration of the priest
and the courtesan, and admitted as truth by the governor, who pretended
to have heard it from good authority; while the doctor sat neutral, as
one who thought it scandalous to know the history of such modern events.
The Israelite, being a true Dutchman, himself under the banners of our
hero, who, in attempting to demonstrate the absurdity and improbability
of what they had advanced, raised such a hue and cry against himself,
and, being insensibly heated in the altercation, irritated his Amand