AbideinLondon，MasterRidd，andhewillmakethyfortune。Hisjokeuponthynameprovesthat。AndI
prayyouremember，MasterRidd，thattheSpanksaresixteeninfamily。’
ButIwouldnottakethebagfromhim，regardingitasasortofbribetopaymesuchalumpofmoney，withoutsomuchasaskinghowgreathadbeenmyexpenses。
ThereforeIonlytoldhimthatifhewouldkindlykeepthecashformeuntilthemorrow，Iwouldspendtherestofthedayincountingwhichalwaysissoreworkwithmehowmuchithadstoodmeinboardandlodging，sinceMasterStickleshadrenderedmeup；foruntilthattimehehadbornemyexpenses。InthemorningI
wouldgiveMr。Spankamemorandum，dulysigned，andattestedbymylandlord，includingthebreakfastofthatday，andinexchangeforthisIwouldtaketheexactamountfromtheyellowbag，andbeverythankfulforit。
’Ifthatisthywayofusingopportunity，’saidSpank，lookingatmewithsomecontempt，’thouwiltneverthriveinthesetimes，mylad。EventheLordChiefJusticecanbelittlehelptothee；unlessthouknowestbetterthanthathowtohelpthyself’
Itmatterednottome。Theword’approver’stuckinmygorge，asusedbytheLordChiefJustice；forwelookeduponanapproverasaverylowthingindeed。Iwouldratherpayforeverybreakfast，andeveneverydinner，eatenbymesincehereIcame，thantakemoneyasanapprover。AndindeedIwasmuchdisappointedatbeingtakeninthatlight，havingunderstoodthatIwassentforasatrustysubject，andhumblefriendofHisMajesty。
InthemorningImetMr。Spankwaitingformeattheentrance，andverydesiroustoseeme。Ishowedhimmybill，madeoutinfaircopy，andhelaughedatit，andsaid，’Takeittwiceover，MasterRidd；onceforthineownsake，andonceforHisMajesty’s；asallhisloyaltradesmendo，whentheycangetany。HisMajestyknowsandisproudofit，foritshowstheirloveofhiscountenance；andhesays，“bisdatquicitodat，“thenhowcanIgrumbleatgivingtwice，whenIgivesoslowly？’
’Nay，Iwilltakeitbutonce，’Isaid；’ifHisMajestylovestoberobbed，heneednotlackofhisdesire，whiletheSpanksaresixteeninfamily。’
Theclerksmiledcheerfullyatthis，beingproudofhischildren’sability；andthenhavingpaidmyaccount，hewhispered，——
’Heisallalonethismorning，John，andinraregoodhumour。HehathbeenpromisedthehandlingofpoorMasterAlgernonSidney，andhesayshewillsoonmakerepublicofhim；forhisstateshallshortlybeheadless。Heischucklingoverhisjoke，likeapigwithanut；andthatalwaysmakeshimpleasant。JohnRidd，mylord!’Withthatheswungupthecurtainbravely，andaccordingtospecialorders，Istood，facetoface，andalonewithJudgeJeffreys。
Hislordshipwasbusywithsomeletters，anddidnotlookupforaminuteortwo，althoughheknewthatI
wasthere。MeanwhileIstoodwaitingtomakemybow；
afraidtobeginuponhim，andwonderingathisgreatbull-head。Thenheclosedhisletters，well-pleasedwiththeirimport，andfixedhisboldbroadstareonme，asifIwereanoysteropened，andhewouldknowhowfreshIwas。
’Mayitpleaseyourworship，’Isaid，’hereIamaccordingtoorder，awaitingyourgoodpleasure。’
’Thouartmadetoweight，John，morethanorder。Howmuchdostthoutipthescalesto？’
’Onlytwelvescorepounds，mylord，whenIbeinwrestlingtrim。AndsureImusthavelostweighthere，frettingsolonginLondon。’
’Ha，ha!Muchfretisthereinthee!HathHisMajestyseenthee？’
’Yes，mylord，twiceoreventhrice；andhemadesomejestconcerningme。’
’Averybadone，Idoubtnot。Hishumourisnotsodaintyasmine，butapttobecoarseandunmannerly。
NowJohn，orJack，bythelookofthee，thouartmoreusedtobecalled。’
’Yes，yourworship，whenIamwitholdMollyandBettyMuxworthy。’
’Peace，thouforwardvarlet!Thereisadealtoomuchofthee。Weshallhavetotryshortcommonswiththee，andthouartaverylongcommon。Ha，ha!WhereisthatrogueSpank？Spankmusthearthatby-and-by。
Itisbeyondthygreatthickhead，Jack。’
’Notso，mylord；Ihavebeenatschool，andhadverybadjokesmadeuponme。’
’Ha，ha!Ithathhittheehard。Andfaith，itwouldbehardtomissthee，evenwithharpoon。Andthoulookestliketoblubber，now。Capital，infaith!Ihavetheeoneveryside，Jack，andthysidesaremanifold；
many-foldedatanyrate。Thoushalthavedoubleexpenses，Jack，forthewitthouhastprovokedinme。’
’Heavygoodslackheavypayment，isaproverbdownourway，mylord。’
’Ah，Ihurtthee，Ihurtthee，Jack。Theharpoonhathnotickleforthee。Now，JackWhale，havinghauledtheehard，wewillproceedtoexaminethee。’Hereallhismannerwaschanged，andhelookedwithhisheavybrowsbentuponme，asifhehadneverlaughedinhislife，andwouldallownoneelsetodoso。
’Iamreadytoanswer，mylord，’Ireplied，’ifheasksmenoughtbeyondmyknowledge，orbeyondmyhonour。’
’Hadstbetteranswermeeverything，lump。Whathastthoutodowithhonour？Nowisthereinthyneighbourhoodacertainnestofrobbers，miscreants，andoutlaws，whomallmenfeartohandle？’
’Yes，mylord。Atleast，Ibelievesomeofthemberobbers，andallofthemareoutlaws。’
’Andwhatisyourhighsheriffabout，thathedothnothangthemall？Orsendthemupformetohang，withoutmoretodoaboutthem？’
’Ireckonthatheisafraid，mylord；itisnotsafetomeddlewiththem。Theyareofgoodbirth，andreckless；andtheirplaceisverystrong。’
’Goodbirth!WhatwasLordRussellof，LordEssex，andthisSidney？’Tisthesurestheirshiptotheblocktobethechipofagoodone。Whatisthenameofthispestilentrace，andhowmanyofthemarethere？’
’TheyaretheDoonesofBagworthyforest，mayitpleaseyourworship。Andwereckontherebeaboutfortyofthem，besidethewomenandchildren。’
’FortyDoones，allfortythieves!andwomenandchildren!ThunderofGod!Howlonghavetheybeentherethen？’
’Theymayhavebeentherethirtyyears，mylord；andindeedtheymayhavebeenforty。Beforethegreatwarbrokeouttheycame，longerbackthanIcanremember。’
’Ay，longbeforethouwastborn，John。Good，thouspeakestplainly。Woebetidealiar，whensoIgetholdofhim。YewantmeontheWesternCircuit；byGod，andyeshallhaveme，whenLondontraitorsarespunandswung。ThereisafamilycalledDeWhichehalselivingverynighthee，John？’
Thishesaidinasuddenmanner，asiftotakemeoffmyguard，andfixedhisgreatthickeyesonme。AndintruthIwasmuchastonished。
’Yes，mylord，thereis。Atleast，notsoveryfarfromus。BarondeWhichehalse，ofLeyManor。’
’Baron，ha!oftheExchequer——eh，lad？AndtakethduesinsteadofHisMajesty。Somewhatwhichhaltsthereoughttocomealittlefurther，Itrow。Itshallbeseento，aswellasthewitchwhichmakesitsotohalt。RiotousknavesinWestEngland，drunkenoutlaws，youshalldance，ifeverIplaypipeforyou。JohnRidd，IwillcometoOareparish，androutouttheOareofBabylon。’
’Althoughyourworshipissolearned，’Iansweredseeingthatnowhewasbeginningtomakethingsuneasy；
’yourworship，thoughbeingChiefJustice，doeslittlejusticetous。Wearedownrightgoodandloyalfolk；
andIhavenotseen，sincehereIcametothisgreattownofLondon，anywhomaybetterus，orevencomeanighus，inhonesty，andgoodness，anddutytoourneighbours。Forweareveryquietfolk，notpratingourownvirtues——’
’Enough，goodJohn，enough!Knowestthounotthatmodestyisthemaidenhoodofvirtue，lostevenbyherownapproval？NowhastthoueverheardorthoughtthatDeWhichehalseisinleaguewiththeDoonesofBagworthy？’
Sayingthesewordsratherslowly，heskeweredhisgreateyesintomine，sothatIcouldnotthinkatall，neitherlookathim，noryetaway。Theideawassonewtomethatitsetmywitsallwandering；andlookingintome，hesawthatIwasgropingforthetruth。
’JohnRidd，thineeyesareenoughforme。Iseethouhastneverdreamedofit。NowhastthoueverseenamanwhosenameisThomasFaggus？’
’Yes，sir，manyandmanyatime。Heismyownworthycousin；andIfearhethathathintentions’——hereI
stopped，havingnorighttheretospeakaboutourAnnie。
’TomFaggusisagoodman，’hesaid；andhisgreatsquarefacehadasmilewhichshowedmehehadmetmycousin；’MasterFaggushathmademistakesastothetitletoproperty，aslawyersoftentimesmaydo；buttakehimallforall，heisathoroughlystraightforwardman；presentshisbill，andhasitpaid，andmakesnochargefordrawingit。
Nevertheless，wemusttaxhiscosts，asofanyothersolicitor。’
’Tobesure，tobesure，mylord!’wasallthatIcouldsay，notunderstandingwhatallthismeant。
’Ifearhewillcometothegallows，’saidtheLordChiefJustice，sinkinghisvoicebelowtheechoes；
’tellhimthisfromme，Jack。Heshallneverbecondemnedbeforeme；butIcannotbeeverywhere，andsomeofourJusticesmaykeepshortmemoryofhisdinners。Tellhimtochangehisname，turnparson，ordosomethingelse，tomakeitwrongtohanghim。
Parsonisthebestthing，hehathsuchcommandoffeatures，andhemighttakehistithesonhorseback。
Nowafewmorethings，JohnRidd；andforthepresentI
havedonewiththee。’
Allmyheartleapedupatthis，togetawayfromLondonso：andyetIcouldhardlytrusttoit。
’IsthereanysoundroundyourwayofdisaffectiontoHisMajesty，HismostgraciousMajesty？’
’No，mylord：nosignwhatever。Weprayforhiminchurchperhaps，andwetalkabouthimafterwards，hopingitmaydohimgood，asitisintended。Butafterthatwehavenaughttosay，notknowingmuchabouthim——atleasttillIgethomeagain。’
’Thatisasitshouldbe，John。Andthelessyousaythebetter。ButIhaveheardofthingsinTaunton，andevennearertoyouinDulverton，andevennigherstilluponExmoor；thingswhichareofthepillorykind，andevenmoreofthegallows。Iseethatyouknownaughtofthem。Nevertheless，itwillnotbelongbeforeallEnglandhearsofthem。Now，John，Ihavetakenalikingtothee，fornevermantoldmethetruth，withoutfearorfavour，morethoroughlyandtrulythanthouhastdone。Keepthouclearofthis，myson。Itwillcometonothing；yetmanyshallswinghighforit。EvenIcouldnotsavethee，JohnRidd，ifthouwertmixedinthisaffair。KeepfromtheDoones，keepfromDeWhichehalse，keepfromeverythingwhichleadsbeyondthesightofthyknowledge。Imeanttousetheeasmytool；butIseethouarttoohonestandsimple。Iwillsendasharperdown；butneverletmefindthee，John，eitheratoolfortheotherside，oratubeformywordstopassthrough。’
HeretheLordJusticegavemesuchaglarethatI
wishedmyselfwellridofhim，thoughthankfulforhiswarnings；andseeinghowhehadmadeuponmealongabidingmarkoffear，hesmiledagaininajocularmanner，andsaid，——
’Now，gettheegone，Jack。Ishallrememberthee；andItrow，thouwilt’stnotformanyadayforgetme。’
’Mylord，Iwasneversogladtogo；forthehaymustbein，andthericksunthatched，andnoneofthemcanmakesparslikeme，andtwomentotwisteveryhay-rope，andmotherthinkingitallright，andlisteningrightandlefttolies，andcheatedateverypigshekills，andeventheskinsofthesheeptogo——’
’JohnRidd，Ithoughtnonecouldcomenighyourfolkinhonesty，andgoodness，anddutytotheirneighbours!’
’Sureenough，mylord；butbyourfolk，Imeanourselves，notthemennorwomenneither——’
’Thatwilldo，John。Gothyway。Notmen，norwomenneither，arebetterthantheyneedbe。’
Iwishedtosetthismatterright；buthisworshipwouldnothearme，andonlydrovemeoutofcourt，sayingthatmenwerethievesandliars，nomoreinoneplacethananother，butallalikeallovertheworld，andwomennotfarbehindthem。ItwasnotformetodisputethispointthoughIwasnotyetpersuadedofit，bothbecausemylordwasaJudge，andmustknowmoreaboutit，andalsothatbeingamanmyselfImightseemtobedefendingmyselfinanunbecomingmanner。