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58 The Adventures of Roderick Random up stairs with lights, and such weapons as chance afforded; when we beheld a very diverting scene.—In one corner stood the poor captain shivering in his shirt, which was all torn to rags; with a woful visage, scratched all over by his wife, who had by this time wrapt the counterpane about her, and sat sobbing on the side of her bed.—In the other end, lay the old usurer sprawling on Miss Jenny’s bed, with his flannel jacket over his shirt, and his tawny meagre limbs exposed to the air; while she held him fast by the two ears, and loaded him with execrations.—When we asked what was the matter, she affected to weep, told us, she was afraid that wicked rogue had ruined her in her sleep, and bad us take notice of what we saw, for she intended to make use of our evidence against him. The poor wretch looked like one more dead than alive, and begged to be released; a favour which he had no sooner obtained, than he protested she was no woman, but a devil incarnate—that she had first seduced his flesh to rebel, and then betrayed him.—“Yes, cockatrice33 (continued he) you know you laid this snare for me—but you shan’t succeed—for I will hang myself before you shall get a farthing of me.”—So saying, he crawled to his own bed, groaning all the way.—We then advanced to the captain, who told us, “Gentlemen, here has been a damn’d mistake; but I’ll be reveng’d on him who was the occasion of it.—That Scotchman who carries the knapsack shall not breathe this vital air another day, if my name be Weazel.—My dear, I ask you ten thousand pardons; you are sensible I could mean no harm to you.”—“I know not what you meant (replied she sighing) but I know I have got enough to send me to my grave.”—At length they were reconciled.—The wife was complimented with a share of Miss Jenny’s bed (her own being overflowed) and the master of the waggon invited Weazel to sleep the remaining part of the night with him. I retired to mine, where I found Strap mortally afraid, he having stole away in the dark, while the captain and his lady were at logger-heads.34 chapter xii. Captain Weazel challenges Strap, who declines the combat——an affair between the captain and me——the usurer is fain to give miss Jenny five guineas for a release——we are in danger of losing a meal——the behaviour of Weazel, Jenny and Joey on that occasion——an account of captain Weazel and his lady——the captain’s courage tried——Isaac’s mirth at the captain’s expence. Next morning, I agreed to give the master of the waggon ten shillings for my passage to London, provided Strap should be allowed to take my place when I should be disposed to walk.—At the same time I desired him to appease the incensed captain, who had entered the kitchen, with a drawn sword in his hand, and threatned Volume One, Chapter XII 59 with many oaths, to sacrifice the villain, who attempted to violate his bed; but it was to no purpose for the master to explain the mistake, and assure him of the poor lad’s innocence , who stood trembling behind me all the while: the more submission that appeared in Strap, the more implacable seemed the resentment of Weazel, who swore he must either fight him, or he would instantly put him to death. I was extremely provoked at this insolence, and told him, it could not be supposed that a poor barber lad would engage a man of the sword at his own weapon; but I was persuaded he would wrestle or box with him. To which proposal Strap immediately gave assent, by saying, he would box with him for a guinea.—Weazel replied, with a look of disdain, that it was beneath any gentleman of his character to fight like a porter, or even to put himself on a footing, in any respect, with such a fellow as Strap.—“Ods bodikins!1 (cries Joey) sure coptain, yaw would not coommit moorder! Here’s a poor lad that is willing to make attoonement for his offence; and an that woan’t satisfie yaw, offers to fight yaw fairly.—And...

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