 for he was considered, by those who had the care of
him, as an old humourist, not a little distempered in his brain. He inquired
particularly about the sailors, who (he said) had deterred him from carrying on
his usual correspondence with Pickle, and been the immediate cause of his
indisposition, by terrifying him into a fever: and understanding that the breach
between Pickle and Hatchway was happily cemented, and that he was no longer in
any danger from the lieutenant's resentment, he promised to be at the Fleet with
the first convenient opportunity; and, in the mean time, wrote an answer to
Peregrine's letter, importing, that he was obliged to him for his offer, but had
not the least occasion for his assistance.
    In a few days, our adventurer recovered his vigour, complexion and vivacity;
he mingled again in the diversions and parties of the place; he received, in a
little time, the money he had lent upon bottomry, which, together with the
interest, amounted to upwards of eleven hundred pounds. The possession of this
sum, while it buoyed up his spirits, involved him in perplexity. Sometimes he
thought it was incumbent upon him, as a man of honour, to employ the greatest
part of it, in diminishing the debt for which he suffered; on the other hand, he
considered that obligation effaced, by the treacherous behaviour of his
creditor, who had injured him to ten times the value of the sum; and in these
sentiments, entertained thoughts of attempting his escape from prison, with a
view of conveying himself, with the shipwreck of his fortune, to another
country, in which he might use it to better advantage.
    Both suggestions were attended with such doubts and difficulties, that he
hesitated between them, and for the present, laid out a thousand pounds in
stock, the interest of which, together with the fruits of his own industry, he
hoped, would support him above want in his confinement, until something should
occur, that would point out the expediency of some other determination. Gauntlet
still insisted upon having the honour of obtaining his liberty, at the expence
of taking up his notes to Gleanum, and exhorted him to purchase a commission
with part of the money which he had retrieved. The lieutenant affirmed, that it
was his privilege to procure the release of his cousin Pickle, because he
enjoyed a very handsome sum by his aunt, which of right belonged to the young
gentleman, to whom he was, moreover, indebted for the use of his furniture, and
for the very house that stood
