was replete with
medicine, and with one turn of his hand, discharged the whole healing
inundation upon the ill-omened patient, who, waking in the utmost
distraction of horror, yelled most hideously, just at the time when
Peregrine had brought his mistress to a parley, and entertained hopes of
being admitted into her chamber.

Terrified at this exclamation, she instantly broke off the treaty,
beseeching him to retire from the door, that her honour might receive
no injury from his being found in that place; and he had just enough
of recollection left to see the necessity of obeying the order; in
conformity to which he retreated well nigh deprived of his senses, and
almost persuaded that so many unaccountable disappointments must have
proceeded from some supernatural cause, of which the idiot Pallet was no
more than the involuntary instrument.

Meanwhile, the doctor having ascertained the malady of the patient,
whose cries, interrupted by frequent sobs and sighs, he interpreted into
the barking of a dog, and having no more salt-water at hand, resolved to
renew the bath with such materials as chance would afford. He actually
laid hold of the bottle and basin; but by this time the painter had
recovered the use of his senses so well as to perceive his drift,
and, starting up like a frantic bedlamite, ran directly to his sword,
swearing, with many horrid imprecations, that he would murder them both
immediately, if he should be hanged before dinner, They did not choose
to wait the issue of his threat, but retired with such precipitation
that the physician had almost dislocated his shoulder by running against
one side of the entry. Jolter, having pulled the door after him and
turned the key, betook himself to flight, roaring aloud for assistance.
His colleague, seeing the door secured, valued himself upon his
resolution, and exhorted him to return; declaring that, for his own
part, he was more afraid of the madman's teeth than of his weapon, and
admonishing the governor to re-enter and execute what they had left
undone. "Go in," said he, "without fear or apprehension; and if any
accident shall happen to you, either from his slaver or his sword,
I will assist you with my advice, which from this station I can more
coolly and distinctly administer, than I should be able to supply if my
ideas were disturbed, or my attention engaged in any personal concern."
Jolter, who could make no objection to the justness of the conclusion,
fra