"By the very dinner you have eaten," went on Jerningham.
"I can scratch up the money to pay you for that."
"And by the further service I intend for you. Beshrew me, man, you may find yourself nested for life if you keep my favour. No more nakedness and starvation." Jerningham, on the eve of his long voyage, could afford any promise; besides, 'twas not impossible this redoubtable fellow might really be useful to him indefinitely, one way or another.
Ravenshaw glared at him with the tortured look of a man sorely tempted.
"Moreover," added Jerningham, "what profit can you have in any kind of virtue, when your reputation is so villainous?"
"Hang my reputation! I'll not be taken for a love-messenger. I'll help no man to any woman."
"You are an ass, then. For aught you know, my love may be honest enough."
"If it were, you would go about it otherwise."
"You know not the world, to say so. Does honest love always work openly? Hath not every case its peculiar circumstances? Because you fear, without known grounds, that you may be a means of harm to a wench, will you go hungry to-morrow? You are fed now, but will you be fed then? Troth, I ne'er knew a craving stomach to have nice scruples."
"Oh, faith, I know that want is an evil counsellor."