I had not gone above two leagues and a half, before the man with his gun began to look at his priming.
I had three several times loiter’d terribly behind; half a mile at least every time; once, in deep conference with a drum-maker, who was making drums for the fairs of Baucaira and Tarascone —I did not understand the principles⸺
The second time, I cannot so properly say, I stopp’d⸺for meeting a couple of Franciscans straitened more for time than myself, and not being able to get to the bottom of what I was about⸺I had turn’d back with them⸺
The third, was an affair of trade with a gossip, for a hand-basket of Provence figs for four sous; this would have been transacted at once; but for a case of conscience at the close of it; for when the figs were paid for, it turn’d out, that there were two dozen of eggs cover’d over with vine-leaves at the bottom of the basket—as I had no intention of buying eggs—I made no sort of claim of them—as for the space they had occupied—what signified it? I had figs enow for my money⸺
—But it was my intention to have the basket—it was the gossip’s intention to keep it, without which, she could do nothing with her eggs⸺and unless I had the basket, I could do as little with my figs, which were too ripe already, and most of ’em burst at the side: this brought on a short contention, which terminated in sundry proposals, what we should both do⸺
⸺How we disposed of our eggs and figs, I defy you, or the Devil himself, had he not been there (which I am persuaded he was), to form