 had recovered the use of his senses so
well, as to perceive his drift; and starting up, like a frantic Bedlamite, ran
directly to his sword, swearing with many horrid imprecations, that he would
murder them both immediately, if he should be hanged before dinner. They did not
choose to wait the issue of his threat, but retired with such precipitation,
that the physician had almost dislocated his shoulder, by running against one
side of the entry; and Jolter having pulled the door after him, and turned the
key, betook himself to flight, roaring aloud for assistance. His colleague
seeing the door secured, valued himself upon his resolution, and exhorted him to
return; declaring, that for his own part, he was more afraid of the madman's
teeth than of his weapon, and admonishing the governor to re-enter, and execute
what they had left undone; »Go in (said he) without fear or apprehension, and if
any accident shall happen to you, either from his slaver or his sword, I will
assist you with my advice, which from this station I can more coolly and
distinctly administer, than I should be able to supply, if my ideas were
disturbed, or my attention engaged in any personal concern.«
    Jolter, who could make no objection to the justness of the conclusion,
frankly owned, that he had no inclination to try the experiment; observing, that
self preservation was the first law of nature; that his connexions with the
unhappy lunatic were but slight, and that it could not be reasonably expected,
that he would run such risks for his service, as were declined by one who had
set out with him from England on the footing of a companion. This insinuation
introduced a dispute upon the nature of benevolence and the moral sense, which
(the republican argued) existed independent of any private consideration, and
could never be affected by any contingent circumstance of time and fortune;
while the other, who abhorred his principles, asserted the duties and excellence
of private friendship, with infinite rancour of altercation.
    During the hottest of the argument, they were joined by the Capuchin, who
being astonished to see them thus virulently engaged at the door, and to hear
the painter bellowing within the chamber, conjured them in the name of God to
tell him the cause of that confusion, which had kept the whole house in
continual alarm during the best part of the night, and seemed to be the
immediate work of the devil and his angels. When the governor gave him to
understand, that Pallet was visited with an evil spirit
