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Pallet shook his hand at this last remonstrance, as if he thought
it would not be altogether convincing to his spouse, but yielded
to the proposal, provided her consent could be obtained. Just as
he signified this condescension, the jailer entered, and addressing
himself to the supposed lady, expressed his satisfaction in having
the honour to tell her that she was no longer a prisoner. As the
painter did not understand one word of what he said, Peregrine
undertook the office of interpreter, and made his friend believe the
jailer's speech was no other than an intimation that the ministry
had sent a surgeon to execute what was proposed, and that the
instruments and dressings were prepared in the next room. Alarmed
and terrified at this sudden appointment, he flew to the other end
of the room, and, snatching up an earthen chamber-pot, which was
the only offensive weapon in the place, put himself in a posture
of defence, and with many oaths threatened to try the temper of
the barber's skull, if he should presume to set his nose within
the apartment.


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