officiated, having read the paper, took down about twenty
different jars, and, pouring something out of every one of them,
made a mixture, which he delivered to me in a bottle, having
first tied a paper round the neck of it, on which were written
three or four words, the last containing eleven syllables. I
mentioned the name of the disease I wanted to find out, but
received no other answer than that he had done as he was ordered,
and the drugs were excellent. I began now to be enraged, and,
quitting the shop with some anger in my countenance, I intended
to find out my inn, but, meeting in the way a porter whose
countenance had in it something more pleasing than ordinary, I
resolved to try once more, and clapped a fee into his hand. As
soon as I mentioned the disease to him he laughed heartily, and
told me I had been imposed on, for in reality no such disease was
to be found in that city. He then inquired into the particulars
of my case, and was no sooner acquainted with them than he
informed me that the Maladie Alamode was the lady to whom I was
obliged. I thanked him, and immediately went to pay my respects
to her. The house, or rather palace, of this lady was one of the
most beautiful and magnificent in the city. The avenue to it was
planted with sycamore trees, with beds of flowers on each side;
it was extremely pleasant but short. I was conducted through a
magnificent hall, adorned with several statues and bustoes, most
of them maimed, whence I concluded them all to be true antiques;
but was informed they were the figures of several modern heroes,
who had died martyrs to her ladyship's cause. I next mounted
through a large painted staircase, where several persons were
depicted in caricatura; and, upon inquiry, was told they were the
portraits of those who had distinguished themselves against the
lady in the lower world. I suppose I should have known the faces