“I do, though; he signed his name as best he could to the dying deposition.”.
“Oh! it couldn’t have been Captain Jack,” said Bates; “I’ll swear to that.”
“And so will I,” said Captain Jack; “the thing was impossible.”
“Quite so,” said Bates; “’tis a very serious charge to make against an innocent man.”
“So it is, gentlemen; but then, you see, the character of Captain Jack isn’t very good at the best of times, so I hear, and the dead man’s oath will be taken before that of any one else.”
“Devilish queer affair,” said Jack,
“Yes, somebody must swing for it,” said the post-boy. “I wouldn’t like to be in Captain Jack’s shoes for all the money in the kingdom.”
“Perhaps you don’t know the captain, my lad,” said Jack, “or you’d have a different opinion; he is—”
“One of the best men in all London,” said Bates, tossing off his wine.
“Honest as the day is long,” said Jack.