The jailer, who little expected such a reception, concluded that
the poor gentlewoman had actually lost her wits, and retreated with
precipitation, leaving the door open as he went out; upon which
Pickle, gathering up the particulars of his dress with great
despatch, crammed them into Pallet's arms, and taking notice that
now the coast was clear, exhorted him to follow his footsteps
to the gate, where a hackney-coach stood for his reception. There
being no time for hesitation, the painter took his advice; and,
without quitting the utensil, which in his hurry he forgot to lay
down, sallied out in the rear of our hero, with all the wildness
of terror and impatience which may be reasonably supposed to take
possession of a man who flies from perpetual imprisonment. Such
was the tumult of his agitation, that his faculty of thinking
was for the present utterly overwhelmed, and he saw no object but
his conductor, whom he followed by a sort of instinctive impulse,
without regarding the keepers and sentinels, who, as he passed with
his clothes under one arm, and his chamber-pot brandished above his
head, were confounded, and even dismayed, at the strange apparition.
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