Pallet protested, with great vehemence, that he was innocent
as the child unborn of an intention to give umbrage to any person
whatever, except the Israelite and his doxy, who he knew had
incurred his displeasure. "But as God is my Saviour," said he, "I
believe I am persecuted with witchcraft, and begin to think that
d--d priest is an agent of the devil; for he has been but two nights
in our company, during which I have not closed an eye; but, on the
contrary, have been tormented by all the fiends of hell." Pickle
peevishly replied, that his torments had been occasioned by his own
foolish imagination; and asked how he came to howl in that corner.
The painter, who did not think proper to own the truth, said, that
he had been transported thither by some preternatural conveyance,
and soused in water by an invisible hand. The youth, in hope of
profiting by his absence, advised him to retire immediately to his
bed, and by sleep strive to comfort his brain, which seemed to be
not a little disordered by the want of that refreshment. Pallet
himself began to be very much of the same way of thinking; and,
in compliance with such wholesome counsel, betook himself to rest,
muttering prayers all the way for the recovery of his own understanding.
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