Grimaldi and Dubois appeared together again later that spring at Sadler's Wells in Dibdin's Harlequin Alchemist, which set up a mock duel between the two Clowns, with the audience deciding who could pull the most hideous face. Grimaldi consistently won. In the next piece, Harlequin Benedick; or, The Ghost of Mother Shipton. Dubois was relegated to the role of Pierrot, while Grimaldi played Clown. Grimaldi's mother was in the cast, appearing as the Butcher's Wife. He then appeared in another Dibdin play, The Great Devil.Findlater, p. 85 During the run, he accidentally injured himself on stage by shooting himself in the footGrimaldi (Boz edition), p. 90 and was confined to bed for five weeks.Grimaldi (Boz edition), p. 91 His mother became so concerned at her son's fragile and still grief-stricken state that she employed a dancer at Drury Lane, Mary Bristow, to care for him full-time during those weeks. They formed a close friendship, which resulted in a loving relationship,Neville, p. 28 and they married on 24 December 1801.McConnell Stott, pp. 106–07London Metropolitan Archives, Saint Pancras Parish Church, Register of marriages, P90/PAN1, Item 055
