He projects a violent Scheme, in consequence of which he is involved in
a most fatiguing Adventure, which greatly tends towards the Augmentation
of his Chagrin.
Thus debarred of personal communication with his mistress, he essayed
to retrieve her good graces by the most submissive and pathetic letters,
which he conveyed by divers artifices to her perusal; but, reaping no
manner of benefit from these endeavours, his passion acquired a degree
of impatience little inferior to downright frenzy; and he determined to
run every risk of life, fortune, and reputation, rather than desist
from his unjustifiable pursuit. Indeed, his resentment was now as deeply
concerned as his love, and each of these passions equally turbulent and
loud in demanding gratification. He kept sentinels continually in pay,
to give him notice of her outgoings, in expectation of finding some
opportunity to carry her off; but her circumspection entirely
frustrated this design, for she suspected everything of that sort from a
disposition like his, and regulated her motions accordingly.
Baffled by her prudence and penetration, he altered his plan. On
pretence of being called to his country house by some affair of
importance, he departed from London, and, taking lodgings at a farmer's
house that stood near the road through which she must have necessarily
passed in her return to her mother, concealed himself from all
intercourse, except with his valet-de-chambre and Pipes, who had orders
to scour the country, and reconnoitre every horse, coach, or carriage,
that should appear on that highway, with a view of intercepting his
Emilia in her passage.
He had waited in this ambuscade a whole week, when his valet gave him
notice, that he and his fellow-scout had discovered a chaise-and-six,
driving at full speed towards them; upon which they had flapped their
hats over their eyes, so as they might not be known, in case they should
be seen, and concealed themselves behind a hedge, from whence they could
perceive in the carriage, as it passed, a young man plainly dressed,
with a lady in a mask, of the exact size, shape, and air of Emilia;
and that Pipes followed them at a distance, while he rode back to
communicate this piece of intelligence.
Peregrine would scarce allow him time to conclude his information. He
ran down to the stable, where his horse was kept ready saddled for the
purpose, and, never doubting that the lady in question was his mistress,
attended by one of her uncle's clerks, mounted immediately, and rode
full gallop after the chaise, which, when he had proceeded about two
miles, he understood from Pipes, had put up at a neighbouring inn.
Though his inclination prompted him to enter her apartment without
further delay, he suffered himself to be dissuaded from taking such a
precipitate step, by his privy counsellor, who observed, that it would
be impracticable to execute his purpose of conveying her against her
will from a public inn, that stood in the midst of a populous village,
which would infallibly rise in her defence. He advised him therefore to
be in wait for the chaise, in some remote and private part of the road,
where they might accomplish their aim without difficulty or danger.
In consequence of this admonition our adventurer ordered Pipes to
reconnoitre the inn, that she might not escape another way, while he
and the valet, in order to avoid being seen, took a circuit by an
unfrequented path, and placed themselves in ambush, on a spot which they
chose for the scene of their achievement. Here they tarried a full hour,
without seeing the carriage, or hearing from their sentinel. So that
the youth, unable to exert his patience one moment longer, left the
foreigner in his station, and rode back to his faithful lacquey, who
assured him, that the travellers had not yet hove up their anchor, or
proceeded on their voyage.
Notwithstanding this information, Pickle began to entertain such
alarming suspicions, that he could not refrain from advancing to
the gate, and inquire for the company which had lately arrived in a
chaise-and-six. The innkeeper, who was not at all pleased with the
behaviour of those passengers, did not think proper to observe the
instructions he had received: on the contrary, he plainly told him, that
the chaise did not halt, but only entered at one door, and went out at
the other, with a view to deceive those who pursued it, as he guessed
from the words of the gentleman, who had earnestly desired that his
route might be concealed from any person who should inquire about their
motions. “As for my own peart, measter,” continued this charitable
publican, “I believes as how they are no better than they should
be, else they wouldn't be in such a deadly fear of being overtaken.
Methinks, said I, when I saw them in such a woundy pother to be gone,
oddsheartlikins! this must be some London 'prentice running away with
his measter's daughter, as sure as I'm a living soul. But, be he who he
will, sartain it is, a has nothing of the gentleman about en; for, thof
a asked such a favour, a never once put hand in pocket, or said, 'Dog,
will you drink?' Howsomever, that don't argufy in reverence of his being
in a hurry; and a man may be sometimes a little too judgmatical in his
conjectures.” In all probability, this loquacious landlord would have
served the travellers effectually, had Peregrine heard him to an end;
but this impetuous youth, far from listening to the sequel of his
observations, interrupted him in the beginning of his career, by asking
eagerly which road they followed; and, having received the innkeeper's
directions, clapped spurs to his horse, commanding Pipes to make the
valet acquainted with the course, that they might attend him with all
imaginable despatch.
By the publican's account of their conduct, his former opinion was fully
confirmed. He plied his steed to the height of his mettle; and so much
was his imagination engrossed by the prospect of having Emilia in his
power, that he did not perceive the road on which he travelled was quite
different from that which led to the habitation of Mrs. Gauntlet. The
valet-de-chambre was an utter stranger to that part of the country; and,
as for Mr. Pipes, such considerations were altogether foreign to the
economy of his reflection.
Ten long miles had our hero rode, when his eyes were blessed with the
sight of the chaise ascending an hill, at the distance of a good league;
upon which he doubled his diligence in such a manner, that he gained
upon the carriage every minute, and at length approached so near to
it, that he could discern the lady and her conductor, with their heads
thrust out at the windows, looking back, and speaking to the driver
alternately, as if they earnestly besought him to augment the speed of
his cattle.
Being thus, as it were, in sight of port, while he crossed the road, his
horse happened to plunge into a cart-rut with such violence, that he
was thrown several yards over his head; and, the beast's shoulder being
slipped by the fall, he found himself disabled from plucking the fruit,
which was almost within his reach; for he had left his servants at a
considerable distance behind him; and although they had been at his
back, and supplied him with another horse, they were so indifferently
mounted, that he could not reasonably expect to overtake the flyers, who
profited so much by this disaster that the chaise vanished in a moment.
It may be easily conceived how a young man of his disposition passed his
time, in this tantalizing situation. He ejaculated with great fervency;
but his prayers were not the effects of resignation. He ran back
on foot, with incredible speed, in order to meet his valet, whom he
unhorsed in a twinkling, and, taking his seat, began to exercise his
whip and spurs, after having ordered the Swiss to follow him on the
other gelding, and committed the lame hunter to the care of Pipes.
Matters being adjusted in this manner, our adventurer prosecuted the
race with all his might; and, having made some progress, was informed
by a countryman, that the chaise had struck off into another road, and,
according to his judgment, was by that time about three miles ahead;
though, in all probability, the horses would not be able to hold out
much longer, because they seemed to be quite spent when they passed
his door. Encouraged by this intimation, Peregrine pushed on with great
alacrity, though he could not regain sight of the desired object, till
the clouds of night began to deepen, and even then he enjoyed nothing
more than a transient glimpse; for the carriage was no sooner seen, than
shrouded again from his view. These vexatious circumstances animated his
endeavours, while they irritated his chagrin. In short, he continued his
pursuit, till the night was far advanced, and himself so uncertain about
the object of his care, that he entered a solitary inn, with a view of
obtaining some intelligence, when, to his infinite joy, he perceived the
chaise standing by itself, and the horses panting in the yard.
In full confidence of his having arrived at last at the goal of all his
wishes, he alighted instantaneously, and, running up to the coachman,
with a pistol in his hand, commanded him, in an imperious tone, to
conduct him to the lady's chamber, on pain of death. The driver,
affrighted at this menacing address, protested, with great humility,
that he did not know whither his fare had retired; for that he himself
was paid and dismissed from the service, because he would not undertake
to drive them all night across the country without stopping to refresh
his horses. But he promised to go in quest of the waiter, who would
show him to their apartment. He was accordingly detached on that errand,
while our hero stood sentinel at the gate, till the arrival of his
valet-de-chambre, who, joining him by accident, before the coachman
returned, relieved him in his watch; and then the young gentleman,
exasperated at his messenger's delay, rushed, with fury in his eyes,
from room to room, denouncing vengeance upon the whole family; but he
did not meet with one living soul, until he entered the garret, where he
found the landlord and his wife in bed. This chicken-hearted couple, by
the light of a rush candle that burned on the hearth, seeing a stranger
burst into the chamber, in such a terrible attitude, were seized with
consternation; and, exalting their voices, in a most lamentable strain,
begged, for the passion of Christ, that he would spare their lives, and
take all they had.
Peregrine guessing, from this exclamation, and the circumstance of their
being abed, that they mistook him for a robber, and were ignorant of
that which he wanted to know, dispelled their terror, by making them
acquainted with the cause of his visit, and desired the husband to get
up with all possible despatch, in order to assist and attend him in his
search.
Thus reinforced, he rummaged every corner of the inn, and at last,
finding the hostler in the stable, was by him informed, to his
unspeakable mortification, that the gentleman and lady who arrived in
the chaise, had immediately hired post-horses for a certain village
at the distance of fifteen miles, and departed without halting for the
least refreshment. Our adventurer, mad with his disappointment, mounted
his horse in an instant, and, with his attendant, took the same road,
with full determination to die, rather than desist from the prosecution
of his design. He had, by this time, rode upwards of thirty miles, since
three o'clock in the afternoon; so that the horses were almost quite
jaded, and travelled this stage so slowly, that it was morning before
they reached the place of their destination, where, far from finding the
fugitives, he understood that no such persons as he described had passed
that way, and that, in all likelihood, they had taken a quite contrary
direction, while in order to mislead him in his pursuit, they had amused
the hostler with a false route. This conjecture was strengthened by his
perceiving, now for the first time, that he had deviated a considerable
way from the road, through which they must have journeyed, in order to
arrive at the place of her mother's residence; and these suggestions
utterly deprived him of the small remains of recollection which he
had hitherto retained. His eyes rolled about, witnessing rage and
distraction; he foamed at the mouth, stamped upon the ground with
great violence, uttered incoherent imprecations against himself and all
mankind, and would have sallied forth again, he knew not whither, upon
the same horse, which he had already almost killed with fatigue, had
not his confidant found means to quiet the tumult of his thoughts,
and recall his reflection, by representing the condition of the poor
animals, and advising him to hire fresh horses, and ride post across
the country, to the village in the neighbourhood of Mrs. Gauntlet's
habitation, where they should infallibly intercept the daughter,
provided they could get the start of her upon the road.
Peregrine not only relished, but forthwith acted in conformity with
this good counsel. His own horses were committed to the charge of the
landlord, with directions for Pipes, in case he should come in quest of
his master: and, a couple of stout geldings being prepared, he and
his valet took the road again, steering their course according to the
motions of the post-boy, who undertook to be their guide. They had
almost finished the first stage, when they descried a post-chaise just
halting at the inn where they proposed to change horses; upon which our
adventurer, glowing with a most interesting presage, put his beast
to the full speed, and approached near enough to distinguish, as the
travellers quitted the carriage, that he had at last come up with the
very individual persons whom he had pursued so long.
Flushed with this discovery, he galloped into the yard so suddenly, that
the lady and her conductor scarce had time to shut themselves up in a
chamber, to which they retreated with great precipitation; so that
the pursuer was now certain of having housed his prey. That he might,
however, leave nothing to fortune, he placed himself upon the stair by
which they had ascended to the apartment, and sent up his compliments to
the young lady, desiring the favour of being admitted to her presence,
otherwise he should be obliged to waive all ceremony, and take that
liberty which she would not give. The servant, having conveyed his
message through the keyhole, returned with an answer, importing that she
would adhere to the resolution she had taken, and perish, rather than
comply with his will. Our adventurer, without staying to make any
rejoinder to this reply, ran upstairs, and, thundering at the door
for entrance, was given to understand by the nymph's attendant, that
a blunderbuss was ready primed for his reception, and that he would do
well to spare him the necessity of shedding blood in defence of a person
who had put herself under his protection. “All the laws of the land,”
said he, “cannot now untie the knots by which we are bound together; and
therefore I will guard her as my own property; so that you had better
desist from your fruitless attempt, and thereby consult your own safety;
for, by the God that made me! I will discharge my piece upon you, as
soon as you set your nose within the door; and your blood be upon your
own head.”
These menaces, from a citizen's clerk, would have been sufficient
motives for Pickle to storm the breach, although they had not been
reinforced by that declaration, which informed him of Emilia's having
bestowed herself in marriage upon such a contemptible rival. This sole
consideration added wings to his impetuosity, and he applied his foot to
the door with such irresistible force, as burst it open in an instant,
entering at the same time with a pistol ready cocked in his hand. His
antagonist, instead of firing his blunderbuss, when he saw him
approach, started back with evident signs of surprise and consternation,
exclaiming, “Lord Jesus! Sir, you are not the man! and, without doubt,
are under some mistake with regard to us.” Before Peregrine had time
to answer this salutation, the lady, hearing it, advanced to him, and,
pulling off a mask, discovered a face which he had never seen before.
The Gorgon's head, according to the fables of antiquity, never had
a more instantaneous or petrifying effect, than that which this
countenance produced upon the astonished youth. His eyes were fixed
upon this unknown object, as if they had been attracted by the power of
enchantment, his feet seemed riveted to the ground, and, after having
stood motionless for the space of a few minutes, he dropped down in an
apoplexy of disappointment and despair. The Swiss, who had followed him,
seeing his master in this condition, lifted him up, and, laying him upon
a bed in the next room, let him blood immediately, without hesitation,
being always provided with a case of lancets, against all accidents on
the road. To this foresight our hero, in all probability, was indebted
for his life. By virtue of a very copious evacuation, he recovered
the use of his senses; but the complication of fatigues and violent
transports, which he had undergone, brewed up a dangerous fever in his
blood; and, a physician being called from the next market-town, several
days elapsed before he would answer for his life.