In which the young and ambitious Peregrine cultivates a reputation as both a wit and a patron among the fashionable literati, delighting in the arts of repartee and patronage while delighting in the gentle chiding of pretension and folly. He amuses himself further by orchestrating a clever trick upon solicitors and gradually finds himself entangled in the riotous and costly excesses of high society’s tavern debauches, despite his inward misgivings and resolves for sobriety.

In which a conjurer and his confidant devise a cunning stratagem to confound sceptics who scorn their art, while Peregrine interposes himself in the affairs of a young nobleman, challenging dishonest card players and engaging in a heated contest of chance and wit. Their encounters unravel through scenes both fearful and fashionable, culminating in acts of generosity and the unexpected favour that opens doors to advancement and esteem.

In which Peregrine, amid a circle of lively card-players and sceptics, embarks upon the curious pastime of fortune-telling, engaging a motley company of inquisitive ladies and irreverent gentlemen who test the bounds of credulity and decorum. The scene grows more tumultuous as licentious visitors break in upon the mystic’s séance, leading to a startling family reunion and a mother’s staunch admonishment of her wayward son’s indiscretions.

In which the conjurer Cadwallader navigates a motley assemblage of supplicants, each eager to glean future knowledge on matters from health and longevity to financial ventures, love, and theatrical fortune. His practice, honed through a mixture of cunning and observation, proves a repository for the follies and desires of mankind, providing wry glimpses into the capriciousness of fate and human nature.

In which a whimsical contrivance leads Cadwallader to impersonate a magician, enchanting a curious public with shrewd responses that blend artful intelligence and satirical insight. This charade soon attracts a variety of seekers, whose private follies and secrets illuminate the delicate follies and fashions of the town’s higher circles, all while our heroes plot their jocular mischief with measured cunning.

In which the delicate intricacies of a once tender amour unravel through revelations of infidelity and bitter reproach, leading to a reluctant union shadowed by caprice and disappointment. The narrative then reflects upon the vexations of a mismatched marriage, political folly, and the tender mercies bestowed upon devoted friends amidst the turbulence of courtly life.

In which a tender and sincere passion grows between two congenial souls, whose mutual affection is tested by the petty machinations of a frivolous coquette, until jealousies prompt decisive resolutions to preserve the harmony of their love. The lady’s devoted journey from Paris to England, fraught with perils and stratagems, reveals the constancy and ardour of their attachment amidst whispered rumours and delicate suspicions.

In which the narrator recounts a harrowing journey through Flanders, enduring a perilous robbery yet maintaining composure, and subsequently navigates the complexities of credit and society in Paris amid dwindling resources. Amidst these trials, she cultivates friendships and encounters new admirers, finding solace and distraction in their company while reflecting on the fickleness of fortune and affection.

In which the narrator, pursued by an intractable lord, embarks on a harrowing flight through country lanes and uncertain refuges, enduring both baseness and benevolence in his search for sanctuary. He finds solace in the amiable company of a noble friend and the shelter of foreign shores, whilst contending with the vexatious efforts of his relentless adversary at home.

In which the narrator endures the capricious and jealous humours of her lord, seeking refuge amidst trials and reconciliations that both tax her spirit and health. She courageously resists his escalating tyranny, ultimately fleeing his house under cover of guise, thus preserving her dignity against his wild indiscretions.