ashamed to
dispose of it any other way, he sat some time in a most distressed state
of suspense; and being questioned by Mr. Jolter touching his calamity,
made a violent effort of the muscles of his gullet, which with
difficulty performed their office; and then, with great confusion and
concern, asked if Mr. Pickle suspected the rabbit's identity. The young
gentleman, assuming a mysterious air, pretended ignorance of the matter,
observing that he was apt to suspect all dishes of that kind, since he
had been informed of the tricks which were commonly played at inns
in France, Italy, and Spain; and recounted three passage in Gil Blas,
which we have hinted it above, saying, he did not pretend to be a
connoisseur in animals, but the legs of the creature which composed that
diet which composed the fricassee, did not, in his opinion, resemble
those of the rabbits he had usually seen. This observation had an
evident effect upon the features of the painter, who, with certain signs
of loathing and astonishment, exclaimed, "Lord Jesus!" and appealed to
Pipes for the discovery of the truth by asking if he knew anything
of the affair. Tom very gravely replied, "he did suppose the food
was wholesome enough, for he had seen the skin and feet of a special
ram-cat, new flayed, hanging upon the door of a small pantry adjoining
to the kitchen."

Before this sentence was uttered, Pallet's belly seemed to move in
contact with his back-bone, his colour changed, no part but the whites
of his eyes were to be seen, he dropped his lower jaw, and, fixing his
hands in his sides, retched with such convulsive agonies, as amazed and
disconcerted the whole company: and what augmented his disorder, was
the tenacious retention of the stomach, which absolutely refused to part
with its contents, notwithstanding all the energy of his abhorrence,
which threw him into a cold sweat, and almost into a swoon.

Pickle, alarmed at his condition, assured him it was a genuine rabbit,
and that he had tutored Pipes to say otherwise for the joke's sake.
But this confession he considered as a friendly artifice of Pickle's
compassion, and therefore it had little effect upon his constitution. By
the assistance, however, of a large bumper of brandy, his spirits were
recruited, and his recollection so far recovered, that he was able to
declare, with divers contortions of face, that the dish had a rankness
of taste, which he had imparted partly to the nature of the Frenc