essor, who remained
confounded and abashed, and in a few minutes left the room, muttering,
as he retired, "The old fellow grows scurrilous, stap my breath!"

While Peregrine wondered in silence at this extraordinary scene, the
lady of the house perceiving his surprise, gave him to understand, that
the ancient visitant was utterly bereft of the sense of hearing;
that his name was Cadwallader Crabtree, his disposition altogether
misanthropical; and that he was admitted into company on account
of entertainment he afforded by his sarcastic observations, and the
pleasant mistakes to which he was subject from his infirmity. Nor did
our hero wait a long time for an illustration of this odd character.
Every sentence he spoke was replete with gall; nor did his satire
consist in general reflections, but a series of remarks, which had been
made through the medium of a most whimsical peculiarity of opinion.

Among those who were present at this assembly was a young officer, who
having, by dint of interest, obtained a seat in the lower house, thought
it incumbent upon him to talk of affairs of state; and accordingly
regaled the company with an account of a secret expedition which the
French were busied in preparing; assuring them that he had it from the
mouth of the minister, to whom it had been transmitted by one of his
agents abroad. In descanting upon the particulars of the armament,
he observed that they had twenty ships of the line ready manned and
victualled at Brest, which were destined for Toulon, where they would
be joined by as many more; and from thence proceed to the execution of
their scheme, which he imparted as a secret not fit to be divulged.

This piece of intelligence being communicated to all the company except
Mr. Crabtree, who suffered by his loss of hearing, that cynic was soon
after accosted by a lady, who, by means of an artificial alphabet,
formed by a certain conjunction and disposition of the fingers, asked if
he had heard any extraordinary news of late. Cadwallader, with his usual
complaisance, replied, that he supposed she took him for a courier or
spy, by teasing him eternally with that question. He then expatiated
upon the foolish curiosity of mankind, which, he said, must either
proceed from idleness or want of ideas; and repeated almost verbatim
the officer's information, a vague ridiculous report invented by some
ignorant coxcomb, who wanted to give himself airs of importance, and
believed only by