"
"I'll go no farther. Old Hildebrand finds some foul business on his
hands, that he would fain thrust into our fingers. A bad business quits
best at the beginning; if once we get to the middle, we might as well go
on, or we may be like old Dick, who swam half-way through the mill-pond,
and then, being faint-hearted, swam back again."
"Look thee now, thou art a precious ass:--thou wouldst be a wit without
brains, and a rogue, ay, a very wicked and unconditional rogue, without
courage. Tut, that same cowardly rogue, of all unparalleled villains, is
verily the worst. Your liquorish cat, skulking and scared with a
windle-straw, is always the biggest thief, and has the cruellest paws,
for all her demure looks and her plausible condescensions."
"I don't care for thy jeers, Michael."
"What!--hast brought thy purpose to an anchor already? 'Tis well. I
shall on to Raven Castle with all speed, if it were only to inform one
Hildebrand Wentworth of this sudden qualm. Likewise I may, peradventure,
remember to tell him of another little qualm thou wast taken with, once
upon a time, at the sight of a score of his fat beeves; a little bit of
choice roguery played off upon him by honest Anthony of the tender
conscience! Look to it, comrade, he shall know of this before thou canst
convey thy cowardly carcase out of his clutches.
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