his own qualifications and
address to despair of forgiveness; and, by that time he arrived at the
citizen's gate, he had conned a very artful and pathetic harangue, which
he proposed to utter in his own behalf, laying the blame of his conduct
on the impetuosity of his passion, increased by the burgundy which he
had too liberally drunk; but he did not meet with an opportunity to
avail himself of this preparation. Emilia, suspecting that he would
take some step of this kind to retrieve her favour, had gone abroad
on pretence of visiting, after having signified to her kinsman her
resolution to avoid the company of Peregrine, on account of some
ambiguities which, she said, were last night remarkable in his demeanour
at the masquerade. She chose to insinuate her suspicion in these hints,
rather than give an explicit detail of the young man's dishonourable
contrivance, which might have kindled the resentment of the family to
some dangerous pitch of animosity and revenge.

Our adventurer, finding himself baffled in his expectation of seeing
her, inquired for the old gentleman, with whom he thought he had
influence enough to make his apology good, in case he should find
him prepossessed by the young lady's information. But here too he was
disappointed, the uncle having gone to dine in the country, and his wife
was indisposed; so that he had no pretext for staying in the house till
the return of his charmer. Being, however, fruitful of expedients, he
dismissed his chariot, and took possession of a room in a tavern, the
windows of which fronted the merchant's gate; and there he proposed to
watch until he should see her approach. This scheme he put in practice
with indefatigable patience, though it was not attended with the
expected success.

Emilia, whose caution was equally vigilant and commendable, foreseeing
that she might be exposed to the fertility of his invention, came home
by a private passage, and entered by a postern, which was altogether
unknown to her admirer; and her uncle did not arrive until it was so
late that he could not, with any decency, demand a conference.

Next morning, he did not fail to present himself at the door, and his
mistress being denied by her own express direction, insisted upon
seeing the master of the house, who received him with such coldness of
civility, as plainly gave him to understand that he was acquainted with
the displeasure of his niece. He, therefore, with an air of candour,
told