lunatic.

The vintner was confounded at this retorted charge; and, after
much perplexity and deliberation, concluded, that both parties were
distracted; the stranger in paying a man's debts against his will, and
Pickle, in being offended at such forwardness of friendship.

CHAPTER C.

These Associates commit an Assault upon Crabtree, for which they
are banished from the Fleet--Peregrine begins to feel the effects of
Confinement.

Our adventurer having dined at an ordinary, and in the afternoon retired
to his own apartment, as usual, with his friend Cadwallader, Hatchway
and his associate, after they had been obliged to discuss the provision
for which they had paid, renewed their conference upon the old subject.
Pipes giving his messmate to understand, that Peregrine's chief
confidant was the old deaf bachelor, whom he had seen at his lodging the
preceding day, Mr. Hatchway, in his great penetration, discovered,
that the young gentleman's obstinacy proceeded from the advice of the
misanthrope, whom, for that reason, it was their business to chastise.
Pipes entered into this opinion the more willingly, as he had all along
believed the senior to be a sort of wizard, or some cacodaemon, whom
it was not very creditable to be acquainted with. Indeed, he had been
inspired with this notion by the insinuations of Hadgi, who had formerly
dropped some hints touching Crabtree's profound knowledge in the magic
art; mentioning, in particular, his being possessed of the philosopher's
stone; an assertion to which Tom had given implicit credit, until his
master was sent to prison for debt, when he could no longer suppose
Cadwallader lord of such a valuable secret, or else he would have
certainly procured the enlargement of his most intimate friend.

With these sentiments, he espoused the resentment of Hatchway. They
determined to seize the supposed conjurer, with the first opportunity,
on his return from his visit to Peregrine, and, without hesitation,
exercise upon him the discipline of the pump. This plan they would have
executed that same evening, had not the misanthrope luckily withdrawn
himself, by accident, before it was dark, and even before they had
intelligence of his retreat. But, next day, they kept themselves upon
the watch till he appeared, and Pipes lifting his hat, as Crabtree
passed, "O d-- ye, old Dunny," said he, "you and I must grapple by and
by; and a'gad I shall lie so near your quarter, that your ear