He then gave me to understand, that he would stay
where he was; upon which my father took his leave, on pretence of
looking out for a lodging for himself. The little gentleman being
now left with me, began to discover some signs of apprehension in
his looks; but, mustering up all his resolution, he went to the
door, called up three of his servants, whom he placed as sentinels
upon the stairs, and flounced into my elbow-chair, where he
resigned himself to rest. Intending to go to bed, I thought it was
but just and decent that I should screen myself from the intrusion
of his footmen, and with that view bolted the door. Lord --, hearing
himself locked in, started up in the utmost terror and consternation,
kicked the door with his heel, and screamed aloud, as if he had
been in the hands of an assassin. My father, who had not yet quitted
the house, hearing these outcries, ran upstairs again, and, coming
through my bedchamber into the dining-room where we were, found me
almost suffocated with laughter, and his heroic son-in-law staring
like one who had lost his wits, with his hair standing on end.
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