In this disagreeable and ludicrous suspense, they continue acting
a pantomime of gesticulations, until the doctor earnestly entreated
them to waive all compliment and form, lest the dinner should be
spoiled before the ceremonial could be adjusted. Thus conjured,
Peregrine took the lower couch on the left-hand-side, laying
himself gently down, with his face towards the table. The marquis,
in imitation of this pattern (though he would have much rather fasted
three days than run the risk of discomposing his dress by such an
attitude), stretched himself upon the opposite place, reclining
upon his elbow in a most painful and awkward situation, with his
head raised above the end of the couch, that the economy of his
hair might not suffer by the projection of his body. The Italian,
being a thin limber creature, planted himself next to Pickle,
without sustaining any misfortune but that of his stocking being
torn by a ragged nail of the seat, as he raised his legs on a level
with the rest of his limbs. But the baron, who was neither so wieldy
nor supple in his joints as his companions, flounced himself down
with such precipitation, that his feet, suddenly tilting up, came
in furious contact with the head of the marquis, and demolished
every curl in a twinkling, while his own skull, at the same instant,
descended upon the side of his couch, with such violence, that his
periwig was struck off, and the whole room filled with pulvilio.
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