"Why, thou recreant knave! Do you mean you have failed in the business and would lay it to your virtue?"
"Softly, good sir! I will tell you this: I can win the maid to meet you, if I will."
"Then what the devil—? How much money—? Come to an end, that I may know whether to use you or—"
"I will win the maid to meet you—if you will pledge yourself—"
"Go on; what price?"
"If you will pledge yourself to make her your wife at the meeting, and acknowledge her openly as such."
Jerningham stared for a moment in amazement. Then he gave a harsh laugh.
"A rare jest, i' faith! The roaring captain, desiring a city maid for his mistress, offers to get her a gentleman husband! A shrewd captain! Belike, a shrewd maid, rather!"
"By this hand, I ought to send you to hell! But for her sake, I will rather explain. She seeks no husband. But I conceived you might be a fit man for such a maid. You are young and well-favoured,—a fitter man than some that might be forced upon her. I thought a marriage with such a mate might save— But to the point: if you love her, why not honestly? And if honestly, why not in marriage? You will behold few maids as beautiful, none more innocent. As to her portion, the marriage must needs be against her father's knowledge, by license and bond; but when he finds his son is so likely a gentleman, I warrant—"
"Come, come, an end of this; I am not to be coney-catched. Shall I meet the wench through your mediation, or shall I not?"