“Oh, hanged you will be, there is no doubt of that; but now consider a little; here you are with a brown loaf, and—is that water in the jug?”
“It is.”
“Very well; here you are, hard and fast, you who were accustomed to luxuries, to the richest meats, and the richest wines—here you are with a brown loaf, a jug of water, and the gallows before you! However, if you wish to repent truly and sincerely, reflect upon the numbers that you and your bloodhounds have consigned to places like this, and sent from this to the gibbet, while you were rioting in luxury and triumph. Good God, sir, hold up your head, and be a man. What if you are hanged? Many a better man was. Hold up your head, I say.”
“I can't, my dear Folliard; it won't stay up for me.”
“Egad! and you'll soon get a receipt for holding it up. Why the mischief can't you have spunk?”
“Spunk; how the deuce could you expect spunk from any man in my condition? It is difficult to understand you, Mr. Folliard; you told me a minute ago to repent, and now you tell me to have spunk; pray what do you mean by that?”
“Why, confound it, I mean that you should repent with spunk. However, let us come to more important matters; what can be done for you?”
“I know not; I am incapable of thinking on any thing but that damned gallows without; yet I should wish to make my will.”
“Your will! Why, I think you have lost your senses; don't you know that when you're hanged every shilling and acre you are possessed of will be forfeited to the crown?”
“True,” replied the other, “I had forgotten that. Could Hastings be induced to decline prosecuting?”