which he said was owing
to his ignorance of my connection with Mr. Medlar; but now he understood
I was a friend, and would communicate what he had to say in my hearing.
He then began, after two or three hems, in this manner: "You must know,
sir, I am just come from dinner at my Lady Flareit's (then addressing
himself to me), a lady of quality, sir, at whose table I have the honour
of dining sometimes. There was Lady Stately and my Lady Larum, and Mrs.
Dainty, and Miss Biddy Giggler, upon my word, a very good-natured young
lady, with a very pretty fortune sir. There was also my Lord Straddle.
Sir John Shrug, and Master Billy Chatter, who is actually a very
facetious young gentleman. So, sir, her ladyship seeing me excessively
fatigued, for she was the last of fifteen patients (people of
distinction, sir) whom I had visited this forenoon, insisted upon
my staying dinner, though upon my word I protest I had no appetite;
however, in compliance with her ladyship's request, sir, I sat down, and
the conversation turning on different subjects, among other things, Mr
Chatter asked very earnestly when I saw Mr. Medlar. I told him I had not
had the pleasure of seeing you these nineteen hours and a half; for you
may remember, sir, it was nearly about that time; I won't be positive as
to a minute." "No," says he, "then I desire you will go to his lodgings
immediately after dinner, and see what's the matter with him, for he
must certainly be very bad from having eaten last night such a vast
quantity of raw oysters." The crusty gentleman, who, from the solemnity
of his delivery, expected something extraordinary, no sooner heard his
conclusion, than he started up in a testy humour, crying, "Pshaw, pshaw!
D--n your oysters!" and walked away, after a short compliment of, "Your
servant sir," to me. The doctor got up also, saying, "I vow and protest,
upon my word, I am actually amazed;" and followed Mr. Medlar to the
bar, which was hard by, where he was paying for his coffee: there he
whispered so loud that I could overhear, "Pray who is this gentleman?"
His friend replied hastily, "I might have known that before now, if it
had not been for your impertinent intrusion,"--and walked off very much
disappointed. The ceremonious physician returned immediately and sat
down by me, asking a thousand pardons for leaving me alone: and giving
me to understand that what he had communicated to Mr. Medlar at the bar,
was an affair of the last importance,