about
seven in the evening
But not cemented with the imagined victory he had gained , he began to strike at the fundamentals of religion ; and the father , with incredible forbearance , suffered him to make very free with the doctrine of the Trinity : but , when he leveled the shafts of his ridicule at the immaculate conception of the Blessed Virgin , the good man 's patience forsook him , his eyes seemed to kindle with indignation , he trembled in every joint , and uttered , with a loud voice , `` You are an abominable -- I will not call thee heretic , for thou art worse , if possible , than a Jew ; you deserve to be inclosed in a furnace seven times heated ; and I have a good mind to lodge an information against you with the governor of Ghent , that you may be apprehended and punished as an impious blasphemer . '' This menace operated like a charm upon all present . The doctor was confounded , the governor dismayed , the Levite 's teeth chattered , the painter astonished at the general confusion , the cause of which he could not comprehend , and Pickle himself , not a little alarmed , was obliged to use all his interest and assiduity in appeasing this son of the church , who , at length , in consideration of the friendship he professed for the young gentleman , consented to forgive what had passed , but absolutely refused to sit in contact with such a profane wretch , whom he looked upon as a fiend of darkness , sent by the enemy of mankind to poison the minds of weak people ; so that , after having crossed himself and uttered certain exorcisms , he insisted upon the doctor 's changing places with the Jew , who approached the offended ecclesiastic in an agony of fear . Matters being thus compromised , the conversation flowed in a more general channel ; and without the intervention of any other accident or bone of contention , the carriage arrived at the city of Ghent about seven in the evening . Supper being bespoken for the whole company , our adventurer and his friends went out to take a superficial view of the place , leaving his new mistress to the pious exhortations of her confessor , whom , as we have already observed , he had secured in his interest . This zealous mediator spoke so warmly in his commendation , and interested her conscience so much in the affair , that she could not refuse her helping hand to the great work of his conversion , and promised to grant the interview he desired . This agreeable piece of intelligence , which the Capuchin communicated to Peregrine at his return , elevated his spirits to such a degree , that he shone at supper with uncommon brilliance , in a thousand sallies of wit and pleasantry , to the delight of all present , especially of his fair Fleming , who seemed quite captivated by his person and behaviour .