He seems to have received information of some sort.

He returned unexpectedly, at a late hour, and attacked me at once, middling violent.

My friend--and that he is! was coming from the House for a ten minutes' talk, as usual, on his way home, to refresh him after the long sitting and bear-baiting he had nightly to endure.

Now let me confess: I grew frightened; Mr.Warwick was "off his head," as they say-crazy, and I could not bear the thought of those two meeting.
While he raged I threw open the window and put the lamp near it, to expose the whole interior--cunning as a veteran intriguer: horrible, but it had to be done to keep them apart.

He asked me what madness possessed me, to sit by an open window at midnight, in view of the public, with a damp wind blowing.