already made such innovation upon his
heart, that he cultivated her with peculiar complacency, gazed upon her
with a most libidinous stare, and unbended his aspect into a grin
that was truly Israelitish. The painter saw and was offended at this
correspondence, which he considered as an insult upon his misfortune,
as well as an evident preference of his rival; and, conscious of his own
timidity, swallowed an extraordinary glass, that his invention might be
stimulated, and his resolution raised to the contrivance and execution
of some scheme of revenge. The wine failed in the expected effect, and,
without inspiring him with the plan, served only to quicken his
desire of vengeance; so that he communicated his purpose to his friend
Peregrine, and begged his assistance; but our young gentleman was too
intent upon his own affair to mind the concerns of any other person; and
he declining to be engaged in the project, Pallet had recourse to
the genius of Pickle's valet-de-chambre, who readily embarked in the
undertaking, and invented a plan, which was executed accordingly.

The evening being pretty far advanced, and the company separated into
their respective apartments, Pickle repaired, in all the impatience of
youth and desire, to the chamber of his charmer, and, finding the door
unbolted, entered in a transport of joy. By the light of the room,
which shone through the window, he was conducted to her bed, which he
approached in the utmost agitation; and perceiving her to all appearance
asleep, essayed to wake her with a gentle kiss; but this method proved
ineffectual, because she was determined to save herself the confusion of
being an accomplice in his guilt. He repeated the application, murmured
a most passionate salutation in her ear, and took such other gentle
methods of signifying his presence, as persuaded him that she was
resolved to sleep, in spite of all his endeavours. Flushed with this
supposition, he locked the door, in order to prevent interruption; and,
stealing himself under the clothes, set fortune at defiance, while he
held the fair creature circled in his arms.

Nevertheless, near as he seemed to be to the happy accomplishment of his
desire, his hope was again frustrated with a fearful noise, which in a
moment awaked his Amanda in a fright, and for the present engaged all
his attention. His valet-de-chambre, whom Pallet had consulted as a
confederate in his revenge against the lady of pleasure and her galla