ered the
room, in a very strange equipage. One half of his face appeared close
shaved, and the other covered with lather, while the blood trickled in
two rivulets from his nose, upon a barber's cloth that was tucked under
his chin; he looked grim with indignation, and under his left arm carried
his cutlass, unsheathed. Where he had acquired so much of the profession
of knight-errantry we shall not pretend to determine; but certain it is,
he fell on his knees before Sir Launcelot, crying, with an accent of
grief and distraction, "In the name of St. George for England, I beg a
boon, Sir Knight, and thy compliance I demand, before the peacock and the
ladies."

Sir Launcelot, astonished at this address, replied in a lofty strain,
"Valiant squire, thy boon is granted, provided it doth not contravene the
laws of the land, and the constitution of chivalry." "Then I crave
leave," answered Crabshaw, "to challenge and defy to mortal combat that
caitiff barber who hath left me in this piteous condition; and I vow by
the peacock, that I will not shave my beard, until I have shaved his head
from his shoulders. So may I thrive in the occupation of an arrant
squire."

Before his master had time to inquire into particulars, they were joined
by a decent man in boots, who was likewise a traveller, and had seen the
rise and progress of Timothy's disaster. He gave the knight to
understand, that Crabshaw had sent for a barber, and already undergone
one half of the operation, when the operator received the long-expected
message from both the gentlemen who stood candidates at the election.
The double summons was no sooner intimated to him, than he threw down his
bason, and retired with precipitation, leaving the squire in the suds.
Timothy, incensed at this desertion, followed him with equal celerity
into the street, where he collared the shaver, and insisted upon being
entirely trimmed, on pain of the bastinado. The other finding himself
thus arrested, and having no time to spare for altercation, lifted up his
fist, and discharged it upon the snout of Crabshaw with such force, that
the unfortunate aggressor was fain to bite the ground, while the victor
hastened away, in hope of touching the double wages of corruption.

The knight being informed of these circumstances, told Timothy with a
smile, that he should have liberty to defy the barber; but, in the
meantime, he ordered him to saddle Bronzomarte, and prepare for immediate
servic