Next morning, about eight o'clock, he was waked by
his valet-de-chambre, who told him that two of the gentlemen with
whom he had spent the evening were in the house, and desired the
favour of being admitted into his chamber. He could not conceive
the meaning of this extraordinary visit; and, ordering his man
to show them enter into his apartment, beheld the person who had
affronted him enter with the gentleman who had reprehended his
rudeness.
He who had given the offence, after having made an apology for
disturbing Mr. Pickle, told him that his friend there present had
been with him early that morning, and proposed the alternative of
either fighting with him immediately, or coming to beg pardon for
his unmannerly deportment over-night: that though he had courage
enough to face any man in the field in a righteous cause, he
was not so brutal as to disobey the dictates of his own duty and
reflection, in consequence of which, and not out of any regard to
the other's menaces, which he despised, he had now taken the liberty
of interrupting his repose, that he might, as soon as possible,
atone for the injury he had done him, which he protested was the
effect of intoxication alone, and begged his forgiveness accordingly.
Pages:
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397