onel that morning, he
assured them that they had been imposed upon by some wag, for his lodger
had never dreamed of consulting any one of their profession.

Thunderstruck at this declaration, the general clamour instantaneously
ceased; and each, in particular, at once comprehending the nature of
the joke, they sneaked silently off with the loss they had sustained, in
unutterable shame and mortification; while Peregrine and his friend, who
took care to be passing that way by accident, made a full stop at
sight of such an extraordinary efflux, and enjoyed the countenance and
condition of every one as he appeared; nay, even made up to some of
those who seemed most affected with their situation, and mischievously
tormented them with questions, touching this unusual congregation; then,
in consequence of the information they received from the landlord and
the colonel's valet, subjected the sufferers to the ridicule of all the
company in town. As it would have been impossible for the authors of
this farce to keep themselves concealed from the indefatigable inquiries
of the physicians, they made no secret of their having directed the
whole: though they took care to own it in such an ambiguous manner, as
afforded no handle of prosecution.

CHAPTER LXXI.

Peregrine humbles a noted Hector, and meets with a strange Character at
the House of a certain Lady.

Among those who never failed to reside at Bath during the season, was a
certain person, who, from the most abject misery, had, by his industry
and art at play, amassed about fifteen thousand pounds; and though his
character was notorious, insinuated himself so far into the favour
of what is called the best company, that very few private parties of
pleasure took place in which he was not principally concerned. He was
of a gigantic stature, a most intrepid countenance; and his disposition,
naturally overbearing, had, in the course of his adventures and success,
acquired a most intolerable degree of insolence and vanity. By the
ferocity of his features, and audacity of his behaviour, he had obtained
a reputation for the most undaunted courage, which had been confirmed by
divers adventures, in which he had humbled the most assuming heroes of
his own fraternity; so that he now reigned chief Hector of the place
with unquestioned authority.

With this son of fortune was Peregrine one evening engaged at play, and
so successful, that he could not help informing his friend