Sir Launcelot Greaves | Page 7

the

cloud of night. Thus exhorted, he resumed his seat, and Mr. Ferret
began to make very severe strictures upon the folly and fear of those
who believed and trembled at the visitation of spirits, ghosts, and
goblins. He said he would engage with twelve pennyworth of
phosphorus to frighten a whole parish out of their senses; then he
expatiated on the pusillanimity of the nation in general, ridiculed the
militia, censured the government, and dropped some hints about a
change of hands, which the captain could not, and the doctor would not,
comprehend.
Tom Clarke, from the freedom of his discourse, concluded he was a
ministerial spy, and communicated his opinion to his uncle in a whisper,
while this misanthrope continued to pour forth his invectives with a
fluency peculiar to himself. The truth is, Mr. Ferret had been a party
writer, not from principle, but employment, and had felt the rod of
power, in order to avoid a second exertion of which, he now found it
convenient to skulk about in the country, for he had received intimation
of a warrant from the secretary of state, who wanted to be better
acquainted with his person. Notwithstanding the ticklish nature of his
situation, it was become so habitual to him to think and speak in a
certain manner, that even before strangers whose principles and
connexions he could not possibly know, he hardly ever opened his
mouth, without uttering some direct or implied sarcasm against the
government.
He had already proceeded a considerable way in demonstrating, that the
nation was bankrupt and beggared, and that those who stood at the
helm were steering full into the gulf of inevitable destruction, when his
lecture was suddenly suspended by a violent knocking at the door,
which threatened the whole house with inevitable demolition. Captain
Crowe, believing they should be instantly boarded, unsheathed his
hanger, and stood in a posture of defence. Mr. Fillet armed himself
with the poker, which happened to be red hot; the ostler pulled down a
rusty firelock, that hung by the roof, over a flitch of bacon. Tom Clarke
perceiving the landlady and her children distracted with terror,
conducted them, out of mere compassion, below stairs into the cellar;
and as for Mr. Ferret, he prudently withdrew into an adjoining pantry.

But as a personage of great importance in this entertaining history was
forced to remain some time at the door before he could gain admittance,
so must the reader wait with patience for the next chapter, in which he
will see the cause of this disturbance explained much to his comfort
and edification.
CHAPTER TWO
IN WHICH THE HERO OF THESE ADVENTURES MAKES HIS
FIRST APPEARANCE ON THE STAGE OF ACTION.
The outward door of the Black Lion had already sustained two dreadful
shocks, but at the third it flew open, and in stalked an apparition that
smote the hearts of our travellers with fear and trepidation. It was the
figure of a man armed cap-a-pee, bearing on his shoulders a bundle
dropping with water, which afterwards appeared to be the body of a
man that seemed to have been drowned, and fished up from the bottom
of the neighbouring river.
Having deposited his burden carefully on the floor, he addressed
himself to the company in these words: "Be not surprised, good people,
at this unusual appearance, which I shall take an opportunity to explain,
and forgive the rude and boisterous manner in which I have demanded,
and indeed forced admittance; the violence of my intrusion was the
effect of necessity. In crossing the river, my squire and his horse were
swept away by the stream, and, with some difficulty, I have been able
to drag him ashore, though I am afraid my assistance reached him too
late, for since I brought him to land he has given no signs of life."
Here he was interrupted by a groan, which issued from the chest of the
squire, and terrified the spectators as much as it comforted the master.
After some recollection, Mr. Fillet began to undress the body, which
was laid in a blanket on the floor, and rolled from side to side by his
direction. A considerable quantity of water being discharged from the
mouth of this unfortunate squire, he uttered a hideous roar, and,
opening his eyes, stared wildly around. Then the surgeon undertook for
his recovery; and his master went forth with the ostler in quest of the

horses, which he had left by the side of the river. His back was no
sooner turned, than Ferret, who had been peeping from behind the
pantry-door, ventured to rejoin the company; pronouncing with a smile,
or rather grin, of contempt, "Hey-day! what precious mummery is this?
What, are we to have the farce of Hamlet's ghost?" "Adzooks,"