The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle

by T. Smollett

  Godfrey executes a Scheme at Bath, by which a whole Company of Sharpersis ruined.

  On the evening after their arrival at Bath, Godfrey, who had kepthimself up all day for that purpose, went in boots to the billiardtable; and, two gentlemen being at play, began to bet with so littleappearance of judgment, that one of the adventurers then present wasinflamed with a desire of profiting by his inexperience; and, when thetable was vacant, invited him to take a game for amusement. The soldier,assuming the air of a self-conceited dupe, answered, that he did notchoose to throw away his time for nothing, but, if he pleased, wouldpiddle for a crown a game. This declaration was very agreeable tothe other, who wanted to be further confirmed in the opinion hehad conceived of the stranger, before he would play for anything ofconsequence. The party being accepted, Gauntlet put off his coat,and, beginning with seeming eagerness, won the first game, because hisantagonist kept up his play with a view of encouraging him to wagera greater sum. The soldier purposely bit at the hook, the stakeswere doubled, and he was again victorious, by the permission of hiscompetitor. He now began to yawn; and observing, that it was not worthhis while to proceed in such a childish manner; the other swore, inan affected passion, that he would play him for twenty guineas. Theproposal being embraced, through the connivance of Godfrey, the moneywas won by the sharper, who exerted his dexterity to the utmost, fearingthat otherwise his adversary would decline continuing the game.

  Godfrey thus conquered, pretended to lose his temper, cursed his ownill-luck, swore that the table had a cast, and that the balls did notrun true, changed his mast, and with great warmth, challenged his enemyto double the sum. The gamester, who feigned reluctance, complied withhis desire; and having got the two first hazards, offered to lay onehundred guineas to fifty on the game. The odds were taken; and Godfreyhaving allowed himself to be overcome, began to rage with greatviolence, broke the mast to pieces, threw the balls out of the window,and, in the fury of his indignation, defied his antagonist to meet himtomorrow, when he should be refreshed from the fatigue of travelling.This was a very welcome invitation to the gamester, who, imagining thatthe soldier would turn out a most beneficial prize, assured him, thathe would not fail to be there next forenoon, in order to give him hisrevenge.

  Gauntlet went home to his lodgings, fully certified of his ownsuperiority, and took his measures with Peregrine, touching theprosecution of their scheme; while his opponent made a report of hissuccess to the brethren of the gang, who resolved to be present at thedecision of the match, with a view of taking advantage of the stranger'spassionate disposition.

  Affairs being thus concerted on both sides, the players met, accordingto appointment, and the room was immediately filled with spectators,who either came thither by accident, curiosity, or design. The matchwas fixed for one hundred pounds a game, the principals chose theirinstruments, and laid aside their coats, and one of the knights of theorder proffered to lay another hundred on the head of his associate.Godfrey took him upon the instant. A second worthy of the same class,seeing him so eager, challenged him to treble the sum; and his proposalmet with the same reception, to the astonishment of the company, whoseexpectation was raised to a very interesting pitch. The game was begun,and the soldier having lost the first hazard, the odds were offered bythe confederacy with great vociferation; but nobody would run such arisk in favour of a person who was utterly unknown. The sharper havinggained the second also, the noise increased to a surprising clamour, notonly of the gang, but likewise of almost all the spectators, who desiredto lay two to one against the brother of Emilia.

  Peregrine, who was present, perceiving the cupidity of the associationsufficiently inflamed, all of a sudden opened his mouth, and answeredtheir bets, to the amount of twelve hundred pounds; which wereimmediately deposited, on both sides, in money and notes; so that thiswas, perhaps, the most important game that ever was played at billiards.Gauntlet seeing the agreement settled, struck his antagonist's ballinto the pocket in a twinkling, though it was in one of those situationswhich are supposed to be against the striker. The betters were a littlediscomposed at this event, for which, however, they consoled themselvesby imputing the success to accident; but when, at the very nextstroke, he sprung it over the table, their countenances underwent aninstantaneous distraction of feature, and they waited, in the mostdreadful suspense, for the next hazard, which being likewise taken withinfinite ease by the soldier, the blood forsook their cheeks, and theinterjection "Zounds!" pronounced with a look of consternation, and in atone of despair, proceeded from every mouth at the same instant oftime. They were overwhelmed with horror and astonishment at seeingthree hazards taken in as many strokes, from a person of theirfriend's dexterity; and shrewdly suspected, that the whole was a schemepreconcerted for their destruction. On this supposition, they changedthe note, and attempted to hedge for their own indemnification, byproposing to lay the odds in favour of Gauntlet; but so much was theopinion of the company altered by that young gentleman's success,that no one would venture to espouse the cause of his competitor, who,chancing to improve his game by the addition of another lucky hit,diminished the concern, and revived the hopes of his adherents.

  But this gleam of fortune did not long continue. Godfrey collectedhis whole art and capacity, and, augmenting his score to number ten,indulged himself with a view of the whole fraternity. The visages ofthese professors had adopted different shades of complexion at everyhazard he had taken: from their natural colour they had shifted intoa sallow hue; from thence into pale; from pale into yellow, whichdegenerated into a mahogany tint; and now they saw seventeen hundredpounds of their stock depending upon a single stroke, they stood like somany swarthy Moors, jaundiced with terror and vexation. The fire whichnaturally glowed in the cheeks and nose of the player, seemed utterlyextinct, and his carbuncles exhibited a livid appearance, as if agangrene had already made some progress in his face; his hand began toshake, and his whole frame was seized with such trepidation, that hewas fain to swallow a bumper of brandy, in order to re-establish thetranquility of his nerves. This expedient, however, did not producethe desired effect; for he aimed the ball at the lead with suchdiscomposure, that it struck on the wrong side, and came off at anangle which directed it full in the middle hole. This fatal accident wasattended with a universal groan, as if the whole universe had gone towreck; and notwithstanding that tranquility for which adventurers are soremarkable, this loss made such an impression upon them all, that eachin particular manifested his chagrin, by the most violent emotions. Oneturned up his eyes to heaven, and bit his nether lip; another gnawedhis fingers, while he stalked across the room; a third blasphemed withhorrid imprecations; and he who played the party sneaked off, grindinghis teeth together, with a look that baffles all description, and as hecrossed the threshold, exclaiming, "A d--d bite, by G--!"

  The victors, after having insulted them, by asking, if they weredisposed for another chance, carried off their winning, with theappearance of great composure, though in their hearts they weretransported with unspeakable joy; not so much on account of the bootythey had gained, as in consideration of having so effectually destroyedsuch a nest of pernicious miscreants.

  Peregrine, believing that now he had found an opportunity of serving hisfriend, without giving offence to the delicacy of his honour, told him,upon their arrival at their lodgings, that fortune had at length enabledhim to become in a manner independent, or at least make himself easy inhis circumstances, by purchasing a company with the money he had won.So saying, he put his share of the success in Gauntlet's hand, as a sumthat of right belonged to him, and promised to write in his behalf toa nobleman, who had interest enough to promote such a quick rise in theservice.

  Godfrey thanked him for his obliging intention, but absolutely refused,with great loftiness of demeanour, to appropriate to his own use anypart of the money which Pickle had gained, and seemed affronted at theother's entertaining a sentiment so unworthy of his character. He wouldnot even accept, in the way of loan, such an addition to
his own stock,as would amount to the price of a company of foot; but expressed greatconfidence in the future exertion of that talent which had been blessedwith such a prosperous beginning. Our hero finding him thus obstinatelydeaf to the voice of his own interest, resolved to govern himself inhis next endeavours of friendship, by his experience of this ticklishpunctilio; and, in the meantime, gave a handsome benefaction to thehospital, out of these first fruits of the success in play, and reservedtwo hundred pounds for a set of diamond ear-rings and solitaire, whichhe intended for a present to Miss Emily.

  CHAPTER LXX.