ws
which he said he had disgorged. The defendant, seeing him very much
irritated, positively denied that he had mentioned a brace: "One
indeed," said he, "I own I took notice of, upon the authority of your
own physician, who gave me an account of it this morning."--"By the
Lord!" cried the sufferer, in a rage, which he could no longer contain,
"that rascal has been suborned by my rival to slander my character in
this manner: but I'll be revenged, if there be either law or equity in
England." He had scarce pronounced these words, when the doctor happened
to enter the room: when his exasperated patient lifting up his cane,
"Sirrah," said he, "if I live, I'll make that black crow the blackest
circumstance of thy whole life and conversation." The physician,
confounded at this address, assured him that he was utterly ignorant
of his meaning, and, when the other gentleman explained it, absolutely
denied the charge, affirming he had said no more than that he had
vomited a quantity of something as black as a crow. The landlord of the
house acknowledged that he might have been mistaken; and thus the whole
mystery was explained.

The company seeming to relish the story of the three black crows, which
they considered as an impromptu of Cadwallader's own invention; but,
granting it to be true, they unanimously declared that it could have no
weight in invalidating the testimony of divers persons of honour, who
had been witnesses of the magician's supernatural skill. On the next
day of consultation, the necromancer being in the chair, and his friend
behind the curtain, the outward door was scarce opened, when a female
visitant flounced in, and discovered to the magician the features of one
of those inquisitive ladies, whose curiosity, he knew, his confederate
had aroused in the matter above described. She addressed herself to him
with a familiar air, observing, that she had heard much of his great
knowledge, and was come to be a witness of his art, which she desired
him to display, in declaring what he knew to be her ruling passion.

Cadwallader, who was no stranger to her disposition, assumed the pen
without hesitation, and furnished her with an answer, importing, that
the love of money predominated, and scandal possessed the next place
in her heart. Far from being offended at his freedom, she commended
his frankness with a smile; and, satisfied of his uncommon talents,
expressed a desire of being better acquainted with his person;