A Set of Rogues

h Don Sanchez opene

on had to propound, and he, after drawing two or three mouthfuls of smoke, which he expelled through his nostrils in a mo

u go to do

e cannot go hence with none of our stage things; and if we could, I see not how we are to act our play, now that our villain is gone,

permission," remark

assion. "I ask no man's permission

in payment of the money you ow

tis likely enough he has, for I observed he was mighty careless whether we foun

to the fire with a most desponding countenance, being in

a bad lot, and face the worst like men. Though we trudge hence with nothing but th

cal take our poor nag and our things for his payment, and much good may they do him

atly advance us, and maybe Don Sanchez

what

h new buffet as it comes, and make a good fight

yourselves," says t

Se?or's presence, who e

he buffets you are so bold to meet? Can you offer her no shelter from the wind and rain but such as chance offers? make no

, but sat there under the keen eye of Don Sanchez, looking helplessly into the fire. And there was no sound until Jack's pipe,

ind no good friend to lend us a fe

t than chance. For my own part, I would as soon fling straws to a drowning man as attempt to sa

in mind than that of offering temporary relief to our mise

in a low voice, not to be heard beyond the room, he questioned us very particularly as to our relations with other men, the length of time we had been wandering about the country, and especially abo

dvantage if you were minded to take the p

welcome to that, for I've had my fill of it. If you can make terms with our landlord, those thing

can speak precisely. We shall gain fi

ubt whether he had heard aright. Don Sanchez be

make sure that he was none the worse for drink, then,

housand

ousies one of the other, it shall be divided fairly amongst us

no more than I can compa

a few hours--at lea

tering for the first t

fting his eyebrows, and sending t

u, yet," says he. "To be honest, yo

g in a letter--that I am determined on. Kit stood by us in ill fortune, and he sh

hat he had included me in his stratagem for fear I might mar it from envy. "The girl

cried Jack. "I warrant our Moll shall l

a twelvemonth, 'tw

tanding. "Well, all's as one, so that we can get something in adv

says Don Sanchez; and then, turning to me

; "and that this 'comedy' is nought but a stratagem fo

as if this had been the most

I thought it was anything but

we may carry out this st

ree for cutting of throats or b

. "The fortune we may take is now in the hands o

or. For I'd as lief bustle a thief out of his

e money must of righ

ney belongs to a child o

ays I, bluntly. "We are to rob th

up with much dignity, "you forget that I am to play a part

. "What's all this talk of a child? Hasn't th

e her fortune, though it be withheld from her by another," s

nds of that rascally steward. But I see," adds he, contemptuously, "that for all your brotherly love, 'tis no such matter to you whether poo

nged to you, Ki

efrauds that child of a fortune is more unfeeling than you who, for a sickly qu

," adds Jack, striking

ith the scheme or not is all as one, since my help is not needed; for if it

t reflection, like the smoking of a pipe. If you put your foot forward, it must be with the understanding that you cannot g

g tail at a scarecrow," says Jack, ad

let me know your determination when the last word is said. Business carries me to London to-mo

ur way through the snow to the cart-shed, and seek a shelter there from the wind, which was all the keener and more bitter for our leaving a good fire. And I bel

eloquence, and he not less heated by liquor (having taken best part of the last bowl to his share), we ran it pretty high, so that at one point Jack was for lighting a candle end he had in his pocket and fighting it out like men. But, little by little, we cooled down, and towards morning, each giving way something, we came to the conclusion that we would have Don Sanchez show us the steward, that we might know the truth of his story (which I misdoubted, seeing that it was but a roguish kind of game at best that he would have us

n the joy of sleeping betwixt clean sheets in a feather bed, and could speak of noth

luxuries do tempt the poor child, and what kind of

lding to my scrupl

, but I know full well you would give nothing fo

the look of a saint, "what are all the fruits of the earth to her who cannot tak

set of Christmas bells chiming, whereupon we, turning about to find the cause of her merriment, she pulls another demure face, and, slowly lifting her sk