"Aha! excellent jolly troup!" cried the merchant, delighted with this company.
The voice of Katherine, who appeared on the steps leading to the hall, now arrested their attention.
"My father is impatient for thee, good merchant," said she.
"Ma chere leddy," replied he, "I will be there a present." And, looking up to see that she had again disappeared—"Drink, my jolly mates," he continued. "It is the grand matiere, the bon stuff, the excellent good liqueur. Aha! you will be so merry, and you know you have the consent of Innerkepple."
"We'll be a' as drunk as bats," said he who spoke first, with a sly leer.
"The Deil tak him wha has the beddin' o' us!" said another.
"So say I," added half-a-dozen of voices.
"Then I am the Deil's property," said the warder, "unless
I am saved by the power o' the wine; and, by my faith, I'll no spare't."
"Aha! very good! excellent joke!" cried the delighted merchant. "Drink, and shame the Diable, as we say in France. Wine comes from the gods, and is the grand poison of Beelzebub."