"Do you remember my wife walking under a ladder yesterday?" observed Mr. Courtaine to Mr. Ince on the morrow.
"Yes, what of it?"
"Well, when we got home we found the cat had killed the canary bird—killed and ate it all but the tail feathers," said Mr. Courtaine triumphantly. "Now what do you think of that? Here come around to Theiss's or we'll have those fellows around us with their infernal low-minded superstitions again."
PORTIA AND SHYLOCK.
Portia:—Nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscate.
Merchant of Venice, Act IV., Scene 1.