 him to frequent his house; and that, for his own part,
he would never enter the door, or favour him with the least trifle of his
custom, if ever he should, for the future, find himself anticipated in his
payments by that unhappy lunatic.
    The vintner was confounded at this retorted charge; and, after much
perplexity and deliberation, concluded, that both parties were distracted; the
stranger, in paying a man's debts against his will, and Pickle, in being
offended at such forwardness of friendship.
 

                                 Chapter CVIII

These Associates commit an Assault upon Crabtree, for which they are banished
from the Fleet. Peregrine begins to feel the Effects of Confinement
 
Our adventurer having dined at the ordinary, and in the afternoon retired to his
own apartment, as usual, with his friend Cadwallader; Hatchway and his
associate, after they had been obliged to discuss the provision for which they
had paid, renewed their conference upon the old subject; and Pipes giving his
mess-mate to understand, that Peregrine's chief confident was the old deaf
batchelor, whom he had seen at his lodging the preceding day, Mr. Hatchway, in
his great penetration, discovered, that the young gentleman's obstinacy
proceeded from the advice of the Misanthrope, whom, for that reason, it was
their business to chastise. Pipes entered into this opinion the more willingly,
as he had all along believed the senior to be a sort of wizzard, or some
caco-dæmon, whom it was not very creditable to be acquainted with. Indeed, he
had been inspired with this notion by the insinuations of Hadgi, who had
formerly dropped some hints touching Crabtree's profound knowledge in the magic
art; mentioning, in particular, his being possessed of the philosopher's stone;
an assertion to which Tom had given implicit credit, until his master was sent
to prison for debt, when he could no longer suppose Cadwallader lord of such a
valuable secret, else he would have certainly procured the enlargement of his
most intimate friend.
    With these sentiments he espoused the resentment of Hatchway; and they
determined to seize the supposed conjurer, with the first opportunity, on his
return from his visit to Peregrine, and, without hesitation, exercise upon him
the discipline of the pump. This plan they would have executed that same
evening, had not the Misanthrope luckily withdrawn himself, by accident, before
it was dark, and even before they had intelligence of his retreat. But, next
day, they kept themselves upon the watch 'till he appeared, and Pipes lifting
his hat, as Crabtree passed
