‘Why, then,’ said Nixon, somewhat surprised at the readiness of his answer, ‘all will go smooth, of course—you will take share in this noble undertaking, and, when it succeeds, you will exchange your open helmet for an earl’s coronet perhaps.’
‘And how if it fails?’ said Darsie.
‘Thereafter as it may be,’ said Nixon; ‘they who play at bowls must meet with rubbers.’
‘Well, but suppose, then, I have some foolish tenderness for my windpipe, and that when my uncle proposes the adventure to me I should say No—how then, Mr. Nixon?’
‘Why, then, I would have you look to yourself, young master. There are sharp laws in France against refractory pupils—LETTRES DE CACHET are easily come by when such men as we are concerned with interest themselves in the matter.’
‘But we are not in France,’ said poor Darsie, through whose blood ran a cold shivering at the idea of a French prison.
‘A fast-sailing lugger will soon bring you there though, snug stowed under hatches, like a cask of moonlight.’
‘But the French are at peace with us,’ said Darsie, ‘and would not dare’—
‘Why, who would ever hear of you?’ interrupted Nixon; ‘do you imagine that a foreign court would call you up for judgement, and put the sentence of imprisonment in the COURRIER DE L’EUROPE, as they do at the Old Bailey? No, no, young gentleman—the gates of the Bastille, and of Mont Saint Michel, and the Castle of Vincennes, move on d—d easy hinges when they let folk in—not the least jar is heard. There are cool cells there for hot heads—as calm, and quiet, and dark, as you could wish in Bedlam—and the dismissal comes when the carpenter brings the prisoner’s coffin, and not sooner.’
‘Well, Mr. Nixon,’ said Darsie, affecting a cheerfulness which he was far from feeling, ‘mine is a hard case—a sort of hanging choice, you will allow—since I must either offend our own government here and run the risk of my life for doing so, or be doomed to the dungeons of another country, whose laws I have never offended since I have never trod its soil—Tell me what you would do if you were in my place.