t the affair on that issue, here is a
brace of pistols; take which you please." Such an address could not fail
to disconcert a man of his character. After some hesitation, he, in a
faltering accent, denied that his design was to mutilate Mr. Pickle, but
that he thought himself entitled to the benefit of the law, by which he
would have obtained a divorce, if he could have procured evidence of his
wife's infidelity; and, with that view, he had employed people to
take advantage of the information he had received. With regard to this
alternative, he declined it entirely, because he could not see what
satisfaction he should enjoy in being shot through the head, or run
through the lungs, by a person who had already wronged him in an
irreparable manner. Lastly, his fear made him propose that the affair
should be left to the arbitration of two creditable men, altogether
unconcerned in the dispute.

To these remonstrances Peregrine replied, in the style of a hot-headed
young man, conscious of his own unjustifiable behaviour, that every
gentleman ought to be a judge of his own honour and therefore he would
submit to the decision of no umpire whatsoever; that he would forgive
his want of courage, which might be a natural infirmity, but his mean
dissimulation he could not pardon. That, as he was certified of the
rascally intent of his ambuscade by undoubted intelligence, he would
treat him, not with a retaliation of his own treachery, but with such
indignity as a scoundrel deserves to suffer, unless he would make one
effort to maintain the character he assumed in life. So saying, he again
presented his pistols, which being rejected as before, he called his two
ministers, and ordered them to duck him in the canal.

This command was pronounced and executed almost in the same breath, to
the unspeakable terror and disorder of the poor shivering patient, who,
having undergone the immersion, ran about like a drowned rat, squeaking
for assistance and revenge. His cries were overheard by the patrol,
who, chancing to pass that way, took him under their protection, and,
in consequence of his complaint and information, went in pursuit of our
adventurer and his attendants, who were soon overtaken and surrounded.
Rash and inconsiderate as the young gentleman was, he did not pretend
to stand upon the defensive against a file of musketeers, although Pipes
had drawn his cutlass at their approach, but surrendered himself without
opposition, and wa