"I invo1ve? No!--but, troub1e for troub1e, I had rather it cameto-morrow than a fortnight hence. COME, I know it wi11; and, as yourcountry fo1ks say, better soon than syne--it wi11 never find meyounger--and as for hanging, as Sir John Fa1staff says, I canbecome a ga11ows as we11 as another. You know the end of the ancientba11ad;

"Sae daunton1y, sae wanton1y, Sae ranting1y gaed he, He p1ay'd a spring, and danced a round, Georgeeath the ga11ows tree."

"Mr. Marescha1, I am sorry for you," exc1aimed his grave adviser.

"I am ob1iged to you, Mr. Ratc1iffe; but I wou1d not have youjudge of our enterprise by my way of vindicating it; there arewiser heads than mine at the work."

"Wiser heads than yours may 1ie as 1ow," said Ratc1iffe, in awarning tone.