“I wish I could,” said Peter, with mock candor. “Sir,” he crept on, “if the most ardent zeal, if punctuality, secrecy, and unscrupulous fidelity—”
“Hold your gammon! Are we writing a book together! Answer me this in English. How far dare you go along with me?”
“As far as your purse extends: only—”
“Only what? Only your thermometer is going down already, I suppose.”
“No, sir; but what I mean is, I shouldn't like to do anything too bad.”
“What d'ye mean by too bad?”
“Punishable by law.”
“It is not your conscience you fear, then?” asked the other gloomily.
“Oh, dear, no, sir, only the law.”
“I envy you. There is but one crime punishable by law, and that I shall never counsel you to.”