rtal poison; therefore,
please to content yourself, for one night only, with a glass of this
most excellent and refreshing mineral water.'

"The gentleman was again compelled to submit, and drank the water with a
variety of strange grimaces. After the cloth was removed, Signor
Ramozini entertained the gentleman with some agreeable and improving
conversation for about an hour, and then proposed to his patient that he
should retire to rest. This proposal the gentleman gladly accepted, as
he found himself fatigued with his journey, and unusually disposed to
sleep. The doctor then retired, and ordered one of his servants to show
the gentleman to his chamber.

"He was accordingly conducted into a neighbouring room, where there was
little to be seen but a homely bed, without furniture, with nothing to
sleep upon but a mattress almost as hard as the floor. At this the
gentleman burst into a violent passion again: 'Villain,' said he to the
servant, 'it is impossible your master should dare to confine me to such
a wretched dog-hole! Show me into another room immediately!' 'Sir,'
answered the servant, with profound humility, 'I am heartily sorry the
chamber does not please you, but I am morally certain I have not
mistaken my master's order; and I have too great a respect for you to
think of disobeying him in a point which concerns your precious life.'
Saying this he went out of the room, and shutting the door on the
outside, left the gentleman to his meditations. They were not very
agreeable at first; however, as he saw no remedy, he undressed himself
and entered the wretched bed, where he presently fell asleep while he
was meditating revenge upon the doctor and his whole family.

"The gentleman slept so soundly that he did not awake till morning; and
then the physician came into his room, and with the greatest tenderness
and civility inquired after his health. He had indeed fallen asleep in
very ill-humour; but his night's rest had much composed his mind, and
the effect of this was increased by the extreme politeness of the
doctor, so that he answered with tolerable temper, only making bitter
complaints of the homeliness of his accommodation.

"'My dearest sir,' answered the physician, 'did I not make a previous
agreement with you that you should submit to my management? Can you
imagine that I have any other end in view than the improvement of your
health? It is not possible that you should in everything perceive the
reasons