He destroyed all vermin, such as rats and mice, by which the house was infested; and the only live creatures he would suffer to be kept were a few poultry.

He had a small hutch constructed near the street-door, to be used by the watchman he meant to employ; and he had the garrets fitted up with beds to form an hospital, if any part of the family should be seized with the distemper, so that the sick might be sequestered from the sound.
* * * * * III.
THE QUACK DOCTORS.
Patience, it may be remembered, had promised Blaize to give him her earnings to enable him to procure a fresh supply of medicine, and about a week after he had received the trifling amount (for he had been so constantly employed by the grocer that he had no opportunity of getting out before), he sallied forth to visit a neighbouring apothecary, named Parkhurst, from whom he had been in the habit of purchasing drugs, and who occupied a small shop not far from the grocer's, on the opposite side of the street.

Parkhurst appeared overjoyed to see him, and, without giving him time to prefer his own request, inquired after his master's family--whether they were all well, especially fair Mistress Amabel--and, further, what was the meaning of the large supplies of provision which he saw daily conveyed to the premises?
Blaize shook his head at the latter question, and for some time refused to answer it.

But being closely pressed by Parkhurst, he admitted that his master was about to shut up his house.
"Shut up his house!" exclaimed Parkhurst.

"I never heard of such a preposterous idea.