seriously offended with him. The cheers of the delighted populace grew louder and louder, and they ran in multitudes after our buggy, and even wanted to take the horses out, and draw the buggy themselves—but this we both united in forbidding—and they shouted as they ran: 'Hurraw for the great Ubustius wot come down from the sky, and skivered old Dashmy Partisan!'
At last we extricated ourselves from the crowd, and drove back quietly to the hospital, where we found the Demon's lumbering coach, with its six black gigantic horses, waiting before the entrance gate. It was surrounded, to our great dismay, by a number of gigantic negro guards.
'Now,' said the Doctor as we entered the hall, 'as I have told you, your time for departure is come. Our friend Artabanzanus is inside waiting for you. He knows by this time what you have done, and I'm glad I am not in your shoes. We shall find him in a precious rage, but he is so blinded and infatuated by his worship of himself, and his determination to gain you over, that it is not likely to last long. Speak him fair; don't insult or defy him, as you did the Parliament. Remember your experience of Partigan; if you make a slip you will be sure to fall, and you will drag me down with you. He admires your talents, respects you lot your knowledge, and almost adores you for your industry, your youth, and the beauty of your person—ahem! But you must not fight him here. If that kind of spirit moves you, wait—have the goodness to wait until you can crow on your own dunghill. He will be in a rage with me, too—do not interfere. I can fight my own battles. As for Bellagranda, poor soul! she is ready to die: she is passionately in love with you. That scream of hers pierced the hearts of those parliamentary demons, and saved your life for that time; but you are not yet out of danger—very far from it. We will enter now the Majestic Presence.
