This
attendance increased his uneasiness to such a degree, that he could
not help uttering a soliloquy aloud, in which he cursed his fate
for having depended upon the promise of such a wag; and swore, that
if once he was clear of this scrape, he would not bring himself
into such a premunire again for the whole kingdom of France.
Divers petit-maitres, understanding the mask was a foreigner, who
in all probability could not speak French, made up to him in their
turns, in order to display their wit and address, and teased him
with several arch questions, to which he made no other reply than
"No parly Francy. D-- your chattering! Go about your business,
can't ye." Among the masks was a nobleman, who began to be very
free with the supposed lady, and attempted to plunge his hand into
her bosom: hut the painter was too modest to suffer such indecent
treatment; and when the gallant repeated his efforts in a manner
still more indelicate, lent him such a box on the ear, as made the
lights dance before him, and created such a suspicion of Pallet's
sex, that the Frenchman swore he was either a male or a hermaphrodite,
and insisted upon a scrutiny, for the sake of his own honour,
with such obstinacy of resentment, that the nymph was in imminent
danger, not only of being exposed, but also undergoing severe
chastisement, for having made so free with the prince's ear; when
Peregrine, who saw and overheard everything that passed, thought
it was high time to interpose; and accordingly asserted his
pretensions to the insulted lady, who was overjoyed at this proof
of his protection.
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