e
kitchen, insisted upon having for their supper the victuals which Sir
Launcelot had bespoke; and that he, the squire, objecting to the
proposal, one of them had seized the poker, and basted him with his own
blood; that when he told them he belonged to a knight-errant, and
threatened them with the vengeance of his master, they cursed and abused
him, calling him Sancho Panza, and such dog's names; and bade him tell
his master, Don Quicksot, that, if he made any noise, they would confine
him to his cage, and lie with his mistress, Dulcinea. "To be sure, sir,"
said he, "they thought you as great a nincompoop as your squire-trimtram,
like master, like man; but I hope as how you will give them a Rowland for
their Oliver."

"Miscreant!" cried the knight, "you have provoked the gentlemen with your
impertinence, and they have chastised you as you deserve. I tell thee,
Crabshaw, they have saved me the trouble of punishing thee with my own
hands; and well it is for thee, sinner as thou art, that they themselves
have performed the office, for, had they complained to me of thy
insolence and rusticity, by Heaven! I would have made thee an example to
all the impudent squires upon the face of the earth. Hence, then!
avaunt, caitiff! let his majesty's officers, who perhaps are fatigued
with hard duty in the service of their country, comfort themselves with
the supper which was intended for me, and leave me undisturbed to my own
meditations."

Timothy did not require a repetition of this command, which he forthwith
obeyed, growling within himself, that thenceforward he should let every
cuckold wear his own horns; but he could not help entertaining some
doubts with respect to the courage of his master, who, he supposed, was
one of those hectors who have their fighting days, but are not at all
times equally prepared for the combat.

The knight having taken a slight repast, retired to his repose, and had
for some time enjoyed a very agreeable slumber, when he was startled by a
knocking at his chamber door. "I beg your honour's pardon," said the
landlady, "but there are two uncivil persons in the kitchen who have
well-nigh turned my whole house topsy-turvy. Not content with laying
violent hands on your honour's supper, they want to be rude to two young
ladies who are just arrived, and have called for a post-chaise to go on.
They are afraid to open their chamber door to get out, and the young
lawyer is like to be murdered for takin