 take care of
himself. He therefore insisted upon his being indemnified immediately, on pain
of letting the law take its course; and Peregrine was actually obliged to part
with the whole sum he had so lately received. But this payment was not made
without extreme reluctance, indignation, and denunciation of eternal war against
the absconder, and the rigid creditor, betwixt whom he suspected some collusion.
 

                                  Chapter XCIX

Cadwallader acts the Part of a Comforter to his Friend; and is in his turn
consoled by Peregrine, who begins to find himself a most egregious Dupe
 
This new misfortune, which he justly charged to the account of his own folly,
recalled his chagrin; and though he endeavoured with all his might to conceal
the affair from the knowledge of Cadwallader, that prying observer perceived his
countenance overcast; and the projector's sudden disappearance alarming his
suspicion, he managed his inquiries with so much art, that in a few days he made
himself acquainted with every particular of the transaction, and resolved to
gratify his spleen at the expence of the impatient dupe. With this view, he took
an opportunity to accost him with a very serious air, saying, a friend of his
had immediate occasion for a thousand pounds, and as Peregrine had the exact sum
lying by him, he would take it as a great favour, if he would part with it for a
few months on undoubted security. Had Pickle known the true motive of this
demand, he would, in all likelihood, have made a very disagreeable answer; but
Crabtree had wrapt himself up so securely in the dissimulation of his features,
that the youth could not possibly penetrate into his intention; and in the most
galling suspence replied, that the money was otherwise engaged. The Misanthrope,
not contented with this irritation, assumed the prerogative of a friend, and
questioned him so minutely about the disposal of the cash, that after numberless
evasions, which cost him a world of torture to invent, he could contain his
vexation no longer, but exclaimed in a rage, »Damn your impertinence! 'tis gone
to the devil, and that's enough!« »Thereafter as it may be (said the tormentor,
with a most provoking indifference of aspect) I should be glad to know upon what
footing; for I suppose you have some expectation of advantage from that
quarter.« »'Sdeath! Sir (cried the impatient youth) if I had any expectation
from hell, I would make interest with you, for I believe from my soul, you are
one of its most favoured ministers upon earth.« With these words, he
