nose aquiline, his mouth furnished with a set of elegant teeth, white as
the drifted snow, his complexion clear, and his aspect noble. His
chestnut hair loosely flowed in short natural curls; and his grey eyes
shone with such vivacity, as plainly showed that his reason was a little
discomposed. Such an appearance prepossessed the greater part of the
company in his favour. He bowed round with the most polite and affable
address; inquired about his squire, and, being informed of the pains Mr.
Fillet had taken for his recovery, insisted upon that gentleman's
accepting a handsome gratuity. Then, in consideration of the cold bath
he had undergone, he was prevailed upon to take the post of honour;
namely, the great chair fronting the fire, which was reinforced with a
billet of wood for his comfort and convenience.

Perceiving his fellow-travellers, either overawed into silence by his
presence, or struck dumb with admiration at his equipage, he accosted
them in these words, while an agreeable smile dimpled on his cheek:--

"The good company wonders, no doubt, to see a man cased in armour, such
as hath been for above a whole century disused in this and every other
country of Europe; and perhaps they will be still more surprised, when
they hear that man profess himself a novitiate of that military order,
which hath of old been distinguished in Great Britain, as well as through
all Christendom, by the name of knights-errant. Yes, gentlemen, in that
painful and thorny path of toil and danger I have begun my career, a
candidate for honest fame; determined, as far as in me lies, to honour
and assert the efforts of virtue; to combat vice in all her forms,
redress injuries, chastise oppression, protect the helpless and forlorn,
relieve the indigent, exert my best endeavours in the cause of innocence
and beauty, and dedicate my talents, such as they are, to the service of
my country."