"Here, Blaize--Stephen, hold him while I call the watch.

This is a most mysterious affair, but I will soon get at the bottom of it." By the grocer's directions, Pillichody, who very quietly entered the house, and surrendered his halberd to Blaize, was taken to the kitchen.
Bloundel then set forth, leaving Stephen on guard at the yard door, while his wife remained in the shop, awaiting his return.
On reaching the kitchen with the prisoner, Blaize besought his mother, who, as well as Patience, had accompanied him thither, to fetch a bottle of sack.

While she went for the wine, and the porter was stalking to and fro before the door with the halberd on his shoulder, Patience whispered to Pillichody, "I know who you are.

You came here last night with the Earl of Rochester in the disguise of a quack doctor." "Hush!" cried Pillichody, placing his finger on his lips.
"I am not going to betray you," returned Patience, in the same tone.
"But you are sure to be found out, and had better beat a retreat before Mr.Bloundel returns." "I won't lose a moment," replied Pillichody, starting to his feet.
"What's the matter ?" cried Blaize, suddenly halting.
"I only got up to see whether the wine was coming," replied Pillichody.
"Yes, here it is," replied Blaize, as his mother reappeared; "and now you shall have a glass of such sack as you never yet tasted." And pouring out a bumper, he offered it to Pillichody.

The latter took the glass; but his hand shook so violently that he could not raise it to his lips.
"What ails you, friend ?" inquired Blaize, uneasily.
"I don't know," replied Pillichody; "but I feel extremely unwell." "He looks to me as if he had got the plague," observed Patience, to Blaize.
"The plague!" exclaimed the latter, letting fall the glass, which shivered to pieces on the stone floor.