eir coats and waistcoats, Mr. Gauntlet told his opponent, that
he himself was looked upon in the army as an expert swordsman, and
that if Mr. Pickle had not made that science his particular study, they
should be upon a more equal footing in using pistols. Peregrine was too
much incensed to thank him for his plain dealing, and too confident
of his own skill to relish the other's proposal, which he accordingly
rejected: then, drawing his sword, he observed, that were he to treat
Mr. Gauntlet according to his deserts, he would order his man to punish
his audacity with a horsewhip. Exasperated at this expression, which he
considered as an indelible affront, he made no reply, but attacked his
adversary with equal ferocity and address. The youth parried his
first and second thrust, but received the third in the outside of his
sword-arm. Though the wound was superficial, he was transported with
rage at sight of his own blood, and returned the assault with such
fury and precipitation, that Gauntlet, loath to take advantage of
his unguarded heat, stood upon the defensive. In the second lounge,
Peregrine's weapon entering a kind of network in the shell of Godfrey's
sword, the blade snapped in two, and left him at the mercy of the
soldier, who, far from making an insolent use of the victory he had
gained, put up his Toledo with great deliberation, like a man who had
been used to that kind of reencounters, and observed that such a blade
as Peregrine's was not to be trusted with a man's life: then advising
the owner to treat a gentleman in distress with more respect for the
future, he slipped on his boots, and with sullen dignity of demeanour
stalked back to the inn.

Though Pickle was extremely mortified at his miscarriage in this
adventure, he was also struck with the behaviour of his antagonist,
which affected him the more, as he understood that Godfrey's fierte had
proceeded from the jealous sensibility of a gentleman declined into the
vale of misfortune. Gauntlet's valour and moderation induced him to
put a favourable construction on all those circumstances of that young
soldier's conduct, which before had given him disgust. Though in any
other case he would have industriously avoided the least appearance of
submission, he followed his conqueror to the inn with a view of thanking
him for his generous forbearance, and of soliciting his friendship and
correspondence.

Godfrey had his foot in the stirrup to mount, when Peregrine,