Nor is the Physician sacred from his Ridicule1 — They reach Arras, where our Adventurer engages in Play with two French Officers, who, next Morning, give the Landlord an interesting Proof of their Importance.
The doctor remained sullen2 and dejected during the whole journey: not but that he attempted to recover his importance by haranguing3 upon the Roman highways, when Mr. Jolter desired the company to take notice of the fine pavement upon which they travelled from Paris into Flanders; but Pallet, who thought he had now gained the ascendency over the physician, exerted himself in maintaining the superiority he had acquired, by venting4 various sarcasms5 upon his self-conceit and affectation of learning, and even tittering puns and conundrums6 upon the remarks which the republican retailed7. When he talked of the Flaminian Way, the painter questioned if it was a better pavement than the Fleminian Way on which they travelled: and the doctor having observed, that this road was made for the convenience of drawing the French artillery8 into Flanders, which was often the seat of war, his competitor in wit replied, with infinite vivacity9, “There are more great guns than the French king knows of drawn10 along this causeway, doctor.”
Encouraged by the success of these efforts, which tickled11 the imagination of Jolter, and drew smiles (as he imagined) of approbation12 from our hero, he sported in many other equivoques of the same nature; and at dinner, told the physician, that he was like the root of the tongue, as being cursedly down in the mouth.
By this time, such was the animosity subsisting13 between these quondam friends, that they never conversed14 together, except with a view of exposing each other to the ridicule or contempt of their fellow-travellers. The doctor was at great pains to point out the folly15 and ignorance of Pallet in private to Peregrine, who was often conjured16 in the same manner by the painter, to take notice of the physician’s want of manners and taste. Pickle17 pretended to acquiesce18 in the truth of their mutual19 severity, which, indeed, was extremely just; and. by malicious20 insinuations blew up their contention21, with a view of bringing it to open hostility22. But both seemed so averse23 to deeds of mortal purpose, that for a long time his arts were baffled, and he could not spirit them up to any pitch of resentment24 higher than scurrilous25 repartee26.
Before they reached Arras, the city gates were shut, so that they were obliged to take up their lodgings27 at an indifferent house in the suburbs, where they found a couple of French officers, who had also rode post from Paris so far on their way to Lisle. These gentlemen were about the age of thirty, and their deportment distinguished29 by such an air of insolence30, as disgusted our hero, who, nevertheless, accosted31 them politely in the yard, and proposed that they should sup together. They thanked him for the honour of his invitation, which, however, they declined upon pretence32 of having ordered something for themselves; but promised to wait upon him and his company immediately after their repast.
This they accordingly performed; and, after having drunk a few glasses of Burgundy, one of them asked, if the young gentleman would, for pastime, take a hand at quadrille. Peregrine easily divined the meaning of this proposal, which was made with no other view than that of fleecing him and his fellow-travellers; for he well knew to what shifts a subaltern in the French service is reduced, in order to maintain the appearance of a gentleman, and had reason to believe that most of them were sharpers from their youth: but, as he depended a good deal upon his own penetration33 and address, he gratified the stranger’s desire; and a party was instantly formed of the painter, the physician, the proposer, and himself, the other officer having professed34 himself utterly35 ignorant of the game; in the course of the play, he took his station at the back of Pickle’s chair, which was opposite to his friend, on pretence of amusing himself with seeing his manner of conducting the cards. The youth was not such a novice36 but that he perceived the design of this palpable piece of behaviour, which, notwithstanding, he overlooked for the present, with a view of flattering their hopes in the beginning, that they might be the more effectually punished by their disappointment in the end.
The game was scarce begun, when, by the reflection of a glass, he discerned the officer at his back making signs to his companion, who, by preconcerted gestures, was perfectly37 informed of the contents of Peregrine’s hand, and, of consequence, fortunate in the course of play. Thus they were allowed to enjoy the fruits of their dexterity38, until their money amounted to some louis; when our young gentleman, thinking it high time to do himself justice, signified in very polite terms to the gentleman who stood behind him, that he could never play with ease and deliberation when he was overlooked by any bystander, and begged that he would have the goodness to be seated.
As this was a remonstrance39 which the stranger could not, with my show of breeding, resist, he asked pardon, and retired40 to the chair of the physician, who frankly41 told him, that it was not the fashion of his country for one to submit his hand to the perusal42 of a spectator; and when, in consequence of this rebuff, he wanted to quarter himself upon the painter, he was refused by a wave of the hand, and shake of the head, with an exclamation43 of pardonnez moi; which was repeated with such emphasis, as discomposed this effrontery44; and he found himself obliged to sit down in a state of mortification45.
The odds46 being thus removed, fortune proceeded in her usual channel; and though the Frenchman, deprived of his ally, endeavoured to practise divers47 strokes of finesse48, the rest of the company observed him with such vigilance and caution, as baffled all his attempts, and in a very little time he was compelled to part with his winning: but, having engaged in the match with an intention of taking all advantages, whether fair or unfair, that his superior skill should give him over the Englishman, the money was not refunded49 without a thousand disputes, in the course of which he essayed to intimidate50 his antagonist51 with high words, which were retorted by our hero with such interest as convinced him that he had mistaken his man, and persuaded him to make his retreat in quiet. Indeed, it was not without cause that they repined at the bad success of their enterprise; because, in all likelihood, they had nothing to depend upon for the present but their own industry, and knew not how to defray their expenses on the road, except by some acquisition of this kind.
Next morning they rose at daybreak, and resolving to anticipate their fellow-lodgers, bespoke52 post-horses as soon as they could be admitted into the city; so that, when our company appeared, their beasts were ready in the yard, and they only waited to discuss the bill, which they had ordered to be made out. The landlord of the inn presented his carte with fear and trembling to one of those ferocious53 cavaliers, who no sooner cast his eye upon the sum total, than he discharged a volley of dreadful oaths, and asked if the king’s officers were to be treated in that manner? The poor publican protested, with great humility54, that he had the utmost respect for his majesty55, and everything that belonged to him; and that, far from consulting his own interest, all that he desired was, to be barely indemnified for the expense of their lodging28.
This condescension56 seemed to have no other effect than that of encouraging their arrogance57. They swore his extortion should be explained to the commandant of the town, who would, by making him a public example, teach other innkeepers how to behave towards men of honour; and threatened with such confidence of indignation, that the wretched landlord, dreading58 the consequence of their wrath59, implored60 pardon in the most abject61 manner, begging, with many supplications, that he might have the pleasure of lodging them at his own charge. This was a favour which he with great difficulty obtained: they chid62 him severely63 for his imposition; exhorted64 him to have more regard for his own conscience, as well as to the convenience of his guests; and, cautioning him in particular touching65 his behaviour to the gentlemen of the army, mounted their horses, and rode off in great state, leaving him very thankful for having so successfully appeased66 the choler of two officers, who wanted either inclination67 or ability to pay their bill; for experience had taught him to be apprehensive68 of all such travellers, who commonly lay the landlord under contribution, by way of atonement for the extravagance of his demands, even after he has professed his willingness to entertain them on their own terms.
1 ridicule | |
v.讥讽,挖苦;n.嘲弄 | |
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2 sullen | |
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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3 haranguing | |
v.高谈阔论( harangue的现在分词 ) | |
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4 venting | |
消除; 泄去; 排去; 通风 | |
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5 sarcasms | |
n.讥讽,讽刺,挖苦( sarcasm的名词复数 ) | |
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6 conundrums | |
n.谜,猜不透的难题,难答的问题( conundrum的名词复数 ) | |
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7 retailed | |
vt.零售(retail的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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8 artillery | |
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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9 vivacity | |
n.快活,活泼,精神充沛 | |
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10 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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11 tickled | |
(使)发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)愉快,逗乐 | |
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12 approbation | |
n.称赞;认可 | |
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13 subsisting | |
v.(靠很少的钱或食物)维持生活,生存下去( subsist的现在分词 ) | |
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14 conversed | |
v.交谈,谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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15 folly | |
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
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16 conjured | |
用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 ); 祈求,恳求; 变戏法; (变魔术般地) 使…出现 | |
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17 pickle | |
n.腌汁,泡菜;v.腌,泡 | |
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18 acquiesce | |
vi.默许,顺从,同意 | |
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19 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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20 malicious | |
adj.有恶意的,心怀恶意的 | |
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21 contention | |
n.争论,争辩,论战;论点,主张 | |
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22 hostility | |
n.敌对,敌意;抵制[pl.]交战,战争 | |
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23 averse | |
adj.厌恶的;反对的,不乐意的 | |
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24 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
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25 scurrilous | |
adj.下流的,恶意诽谤的 | |
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26 repartee | |
n.机敏的应答 | |
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27 lodgings | |
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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28 lodging | |
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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29 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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30 insolence | |
n.傲慢;无礼;厚颜;傲慢的态度 | |
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31 accosted | |
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 );跟…搭讪;(乞丐等)上前向…乞讨;(妓女等)勾搭 | |
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32 pretence | |
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰 | |
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33 penetration | |
n.穿透,穿人,渗透 | |
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34 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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35 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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36 novice | |
adj.新手的,生手的 | |
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37 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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38 dexterity | |
n.(手的)灵巧,灵活 | |
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39 remonstrance | |
n抗议,抱怨 | |
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40 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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41 frankly | |
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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42 perusal | |
n.细读,熟读;目测 | |
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43 exclamation | |
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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44 effrontery | |
n.厚颜无耻 | |
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45 mortification | |
n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
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46 odds | |
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别 | |
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47 divers | |
adj.不同的;种种的 | |
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48 finesse | |
n.精密技巧,灵巧,手腕 | |
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49 refunded | |
v.归还,退还( refund的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50 intimidate | |
vt.恐吓,威胁 | |
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51 antagonist | |
n.敌人,对抗者,对手 | |
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52 bespoke | |
adj.(产品)订做的;专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 );订(货);证明;预先请求 | |
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53 ferocious | |
adj.凶猛的,残暴的,极度的,十分强烈的 | |
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54 humility | |
n.谦逊,谦恭 | |
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55 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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56 condescension | |
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人) | |
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57 arrogance | |
n.傲慢,自大 | |
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58 dreading | |
v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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59 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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60 implored | |
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61 abject | |
adj.极可怜的,卑屈的 | |
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62 chid | |
v.责骂,责备( chide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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64 exhorted | |
v.劝告,劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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66 appeased | |
安抚,抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 ); 绥靖(满足另一国的要求以避免战争) | |
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67 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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68 apprehensive | |
adj.担心的,恐惧的,善于领会的 | |
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