, discharged such a hearty
slap between his shoulders, as brought him to the ground with hideous
bellowing; then, retiring unperceived to his own chamber, was one of the
first who returned with a light, on pretence of having been alarmed
with his cries. The Capuchin had taken the same precaution, and followed
Peregrine into the room, pronouncing benedicite, and crossing himself
with many marks of astonishment. The physician and Jolter appearing
at the same time, the unfortunate painter was found lying naked on the
floor, in all the agony of horror and dismay, blowing upon his left
hand, that hung dangling from the elbow. The circumstance of his being
found in that apartment, and the attitude of his affliction, which was
extremely ridiculous, provoked the doctor to a smile, and produced a
small relaxation in the severity of the governor's countenance; while
Pickle, testifying his surprise and concern, lifted him from the ground,
and inquired into the cause of his present situation.

Having, after some recollection, and fruitless endeavours to speak,
recovered the use of his tongue, he told them that the house was
certainly haunted by evil spirits, by which he had been conveyed, he
knew not how, into that apartment, and afflicted with all the tortures
of hell: that one of them had made itself sensible to his feeling, in
the shape of a round ball of smooth flesh, which turned round under his
hand, like an astronomer's globe; and then, rising up to a surprising
height, was converted into a machine that laid hold on his finger, by a
snap; and having pinned him to the spot, he continued for some moments
in unspeakable agony. At last, he said, the engine seemed to melt away
from his finger, and he received a sudden thwack upon his shoulders, as
if discharged by the arm of a giant, which overthrew him in an instant
upon the floor.

The priest, hearing this strange account, pulled out of one of his
pouches a piece of consecrated candle, which he lighted immediately, and
muttered certain mysterious conjurations. Jolter, imagining that Pallet
was drunk, shook his head, saying, he believed the spirit was nowhere
but in his own brain. The physician for once condescended to be a wag,
and, looking towards one of the beds, observed, that, in his opinion,
the painter had been misled by the flesh, and not by the spirit. The
fair Fleming lay in silent astonishment and affright; and her fellow
in order to acquit herself of all suspicion,