An express was immediately despatched to Mrs. Gauntlet, with an
account of her daughter's marriage: a town-house was hired, and a
handsome equipage set up, in which the new-married pair appeared
at all public places, to the astonishment of our adventurer's
fair-weather friends, and the admiration of all the world: for,
in point of figure, such another couple was not to be found in the
whole United Kingdom. Envy despaired, and detraction was struck
dumb, when our hero's new accession of fortune was consigned
to the celebration of public fame: Emilia attracted the notice of
all observers, from the pert Templar to the Sovereign himself, who
was pleased to bestow encomiums upon the excellence of her beauty.
Many persons of consequence, who had dropped the acquaintance of
Peregrine in the beginning of his decline, now made open efforts to
cultivate his friendship anew; but he discouraged all these advances
with the most mortifying disdain; and one day when the nobleman,
whom he had formerly obliged, came up to him in the drawing-room,
with the salutation of "Your servant, Mr.
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