" So saying, he retired, with manifest
confusion in his looks; and, as he passed through the audience-chamber,
eyeing the conjurer askance, pronounced the epithet of precious
rascal, with great emphasis. Meanwhile, the junior, like a dutiful
child, handed his mamma to her chair; and the other client, after
having reviled the necromancer, because he could not foresee this
event, went away in a state of mortification.
The coast being clear, Peregrine came forth from his den, and
congratulated his friend upon the peaceable issue of the adventure,
which he had overheard; but, that he might not be exposed to such
inconvenience for the future, they resolved, that a grate should be
fixed in the middle of the outward door, through which the conjurer
himself might reconnoitre all the visitants, before their admission; so
that, to those whose appearance he might not like, Hadgi should,
without opening, give notice, that his master was engaged.
By this expedient too, they provided against those difficulties
which Cadwallader must have encountered, in giving satisfaction
to strangers, whom he did not know: for the original intention of
the founders was to confine the practice of their art to people of
fashion only, most of whom were personally known to the counterfeit
magician and his coadjutors.
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