The sarcasm was not lost upon me, and the idea that he was about to become the victim of a passion from which he might be wrested by a sacrifice on my part, greatly excited my feelings.
"I will do any thing," said I; "what shall I do to save you? Oh, Abbot! can you not refrain from this dreadful indulgence? What shall I do?"
He leaped upon his feet, and eyed me with a look full of wildness.
"Pay my debts," he cried; "pay my debts, and make me independent; and I—I'll try."
"And what," said I, trembling with fear, "what sum will pay your debts?"
"Twenty thousand—perhaps," said he.
"Twenty thousand! what! twenty thousand dollars!" cried I, lost in confusion.
"You won't, then?" said the reprobate.
"Not a cent!" cried I, in a fury. "How came you to owe such a sum? Do you think I will believe you? How could you incur such a debt? What have you been doing?"
"Gambling, drinking, and so forth, and so forth, twenty times over."