to close with him, that he
might wrest the cudgel from his hand. At length he desisted, saying,
"I'll warrant the helmet sound by its ringing"; and taking it off, found
the squire in a cold sweat. He would have achieved his first exploit on
the spot, had his strength permitted him to assault Dawdle; but what with
want of air, and the discipline he had undergone, he had well-nigh
swooned away; and before he retrieved the use of his members, he was
appeased by the apologies of his companion, who protested he meant
nothing more than to try if the helmet was free of cracks, and whether or
not it would prove a good protection for the head it covered.

His excuses were accepted; the armour was packed up, and next morning Mr.
Sycamore set out from his own house, accompanied by Dawdle, who undertook
to perform the part of his squire at the approaching combat. He was also
attended by a servant on horseback, who had charge of the armour, and
another who blowed the trumpet. They no sooner understood that our hero
was housed at the George, than the trumpeter sounded a charge, which
alarmed Sir Launcelot and his company, and disturbed honest Captain Crowe
in the middle of his first sleep. Their next step was to pen a
challenge, which, when the stranger departed, was by the trumpeter
delivered with great ceremony into the hands of Sir Launcelot, who read
it in these words:--"To the knight of the Crescent, greeting. Whereas I
am informed you have the presumption to lay claim to the heart of the
peerless Aurelia Darnel, I give you notice that I can admit no rivalship
in the affection of that paragon of beauty; and I expect that you will
either resign your pretensions, or make it appear in single combat,
according to the law of arms and the institutions of chivalry, that you
are worthy to dispute her favour with him of the Griffin.--POLYDORE."

Our adventurer was not a little surprised at this address, which however
he pocketed in silence, and began to reflect, not without mortification,
that he was treated as a lunatic by some person, who wanted to amuse
himself with the infirmities of his fellow-creatures. Mr. Thomas Clarke,
who saw the ceremony with which the letter was delivered, and the
emotions with which it was read, hied him to the kitchen for
intelligence, and there learned that the stranger was Squire Sycamore.
He forthwith comprehended the nature of the billet, and, in the
apprehension that bloodshed would ensue, reso