"I will come to you if you send for me." "Because," replied Blaize, after a moment's hesitation, "my master is about to shut up his house, and no one will be allowed to go forth, or to enter it, till the pestilence is at an end." "Your master must be mad to think of such a thing," rejoined Bottesham.
"What say you, brother Furbisher ?--is that the way to keep off the plague ?" "Gallipots of Galen! no," returned the other; "it is rather the way to invite its assaults." "When does your master talk of putting this fatal design--for fatal it will be to him and all his household--into execution ?" demanded Bottesham.
"Very shortly, I believe," replied Blaize.

"He meant to begin on the first of June, but as the pestilence is less violent than it was, Doctor Hodges has induced him to defer his purpose for a few days." "Doctor Hodges!" exclaimed Bottesham, contemptuously.

"It was an unfortunate day for your master when he admitted that sack-drinking impostor into his house." "I have no great opinion of his skill," replied Blaize, "but, nevertheless, it must be admitted that he cured Master Stephen in a wonderful manner." "Pshaw!" exclaimed Bottesham, "that was mere accident.

I heard the particulars of the case from Parkhurst, and am satisfied the youth would have recovered without his aid.

But what a barbarian Mr.Bloundel must be to think of imprisoning his family in this way!" "He certainly does not consult my inclinations in the matter," returned Blaize.
"Nor those of his wife and daughter, I should imagine," continued Bottesham.