se!" exclaimed a third set, with more oaths and d--n me's,
than, in the present more correct age, it is necessary to commit to
paper.

The old soldier, pricking up his ears like an ancient hunter at the cry
of the hounds, would gladly have scoured the Strand, with the charitable
purpose, now he saw himself so well supported, of knocking the London
knaves, who had insulted him, into twiggen bottles; but he was withheld
by the prudence of Julian, who, though himself extremely irritated
by the unprovoked ill-usage which they had received, saw himself in
a situation in which it was necessary to exercise more caution than
vengeance. He prayed and pressed his father to seek some temporary place
of retreat from the fury of the populace, while that prudent measure was
yet in their power. The subaltern officer, who commanded the party of
the Life Guards, exhorted the old Cavalier eagerly to the same sage
counsel, using, as a spice of compulsion, the name of the King; while
Julian strongly urged that of his mother. The old Knight looked at his
blade, crimsoned with cross-cuts and slashes which he had given to the
most forward of the assailants, with the eye of one not half sufficed.

"I would I had pinked one of the knaves at least--but I know not how it
was, when I looked on their broad round English faces, I shunned to use
my point, and only sliced the rogues a little."

"But the King's pleasure," said the officer, "is, that no tumult be
prosecuted."

"My mother," said Julian, "will die with fright, if the rumour of this
scuffle reaches her ere we see her."

"Ay, ay," said the Knight, "the King's Majesty and my good dame--well,
their pleasure be done, that's all I can say--Kings and ladies must be
obeyed. But which way to retreat, since retreat we must?"

Julian would have been at some loss to advise what course to take, for
everybody in the vicinity had shut up their shops, and chained their
doors, upon observing the confusion become so formidable. The poor
cutler, however, with whose goods they made so free, offered them an
asylum on the part of his landlord, whose house served as a rest for his
shop, and only intimated gently, he hoped the gentleman would consider
him for the use of his weapons.

Julian was hastily revolving whether they ought, in prudence, to accept
this man's invitation, aware, by experience, how many trepans, as they
were then termed, were used betwixt two contending factions, each too
inveterate