“Jack Feversham!” asked Sir Thomas, turning suddenly to his young visitor, “supposing this debt were thine, how shouldst thou pay it?”
“God forbid it were!” answered Feversham gravely. “But an’ it were, sir, I would pay the same.”
“At the dice?” grimly inquired Rachel.
“I never game, my mistress.”
“A monopoly?” pursued she.
“I am little like to win one,” said Feversham laughingly.
“Or by wedding of an heir?”
“For the sake of her money? Nay, I would think I did her lesser ill of the twain to put my hand in her pocket and steal it.”
“Then, whereby?” asked Sir Thomas, anxious to draw John out.
“By honest work, Sir, whatso I might win: yea, though it were the meanest that is, and should take my life to the work.”