was best acquainted with, namely, razors. At my
mentioning razors: I could perceive the captain's colour change while
Strap, pulling me by the sleeve, whispered with great eagerness: "No,
no, no; for the love of God, don't make any such bargain." At length,
Weazel, recovering himself, turned towards me, and with a ferocious
countenance asked, "Who the devil are you? Will you fight me?" With
these words, putting himself in a posture, I was grievously alarmed
at seeing the point of a sword within half a foot of my breast;
and, springing to one side, snatched up a spit that stood in the
chimney-corner, with which I kept my formidable adversary at bay, who
made a great many half-longes, skipping backward at every push, till
at last I pinned him up in a corner, to the no small diversion of the
company. While he was in this situation his wife entered, and, seeing
her husband in these dangerous circumstances, uttered a dreadful scream:
in this emergency, Weazel demanded a cessation, which was immediately
granted; and at last was contented with the submission of Strap,
who, falling on his knees before him, protested the innocence of his
intention, and asked pardon for the mistake he had committed. This
affair being ended without bloodshed, we went to breakfast, but missed
two of our company, namely, Miss Jenny and the usurer. As for the first,
Mrs. Weazel informed us, that she had kept her awake all night with her
groans; and that when she rose in the morning, Miss Jenny was so much
indisposed that she could not proceed on her journey. At that instant, a
message came from her to the master of the waggon, who immediately went
into her chamber, followed by us all. She told him in a lamentable tone,
that she was afraid of a miscarriage, owing to the fright she received
last night from the brutality of Isaac; and, as the event was uncertain,
desired the usurer might be detained to answer for the consequence.
Accordingly, this ancient Tarquin was found in the waggon, whither he
had retired to avoid the shame of last night's disgrace, and brought by
force into her presence. He no sooner appeared than she began to weep
and sigh most piteously, and told us, if she died, she would leave her
blood upon the head of that ravisher. Poor Isaac turned up his eyes and
hands to heaven, prayed that God would deliver him from the machinations
of that Jezebel; and assured us, with tears in his eyes, that his
being found in bed with her was the resul