the clouds of night into the fields, where I was
surprised, overpowered, and kidnapped by armed ruffians. Had he really
believed me insane, he would have proceeded according to the dictates of
honour, humanity, and the laws of his country. Situated as I am, I have
a right, by making application to the Lord Chancellor, to be tried by a
jury of honest men. But of that right I cannot avail myself, while I
remain at the mercy of a brutal miscreant, in whose house I am enclosed,
unless you contribute your assistance. Your assistance, therefore, I
demand, as you are a gentleman, a Christian, and a fellow-subject, who,
though every other motive should be overlooked, ought to interest himself
in my case as a common concern, and concur with all your power towards
the punishment of those who dare commit such outrages against the liberty
of your country."

The doctor seemed to be a little disconcerted; but, after some
recollection, resumed his air of sufficiency and importance, and assured
our adventurer he would do him all the service in his power; but in the
meantime advised him to take the potion he had prescribed.

The knight's eyes lightening with indignation, "I am now convinced,"
cried he, "that you are an accomplice in the villany which has been
practised upon me; that you are a sordid wretch, without principle or
feeling, a disgrace to the faculty, and a reproach to human nature--yes,
sirrah, you are the most perfidious of all assassins--you are the
hireling minister of the worst of all villains; who, from motives even
baser than malice, envy, and revenge, rob the innocent of all the
comforts of life, brand them with the imputation of madness, the most
cruel species of slander, and wantonly protract their misery, by leaving
them in the most shocking confinement, a prey to reflections infinitely
more bitter than death but I will be calm--do me justice at your peril.
I demand the protection of the legislature--if I am refused--remember a
day of reckoning will come--you and the rest of the miscreants who have
combined against me, must, in order to cloak your treachery, have
recourse to murder,--an expedient which I believe you very capable of
embracing,--or a man of my rank and character cannot be much longer
concealed. Tremble, caitiff, at the thoughts of my release--in the
meantime, be gone, lest my just resentment impel me to dash your brains
out upon that marble--away"----

The honest doctor was not so firmly pers