deed must be done, then," said I, "and, since it is so, it
shall be done. I will arm myself forthwith, and from the midst of his
wine and debauchery you shall call him forth to me, and there will I
smite him with the edge of the sword, that our great work be not
retarded."

"If thy execution were equal to thy intent, how great a man you soon
might be!" said he. "We shall make the attempt once more; and, if it
fail again, why, I must use other means to bring about my high purposes
relating to mankind. Home and make ready. I will go and procure what
information I can regarding their motions, and will meet you in
disguise twenty minutes hence, at the first turn of Hewie's Lane beyond
the loch."

"I have nothing to make ready," said I, "for I do not choose to go
home. Bring me a sword, and we may consecrate it with prayer and vows,
and, if I use it not to the bringing down of the wicked and profane,
then may the Lord do so to me, and more also!"

We parted, and there was I left again to the multiplicity of my own
thoughts for the space of twenty minutes, a thing my friend never
failed in subjecting me to, and these were worse to contend with than
hosts of sinful men. I prayed inwardly that these deeds of mine might
never be brought to the knowledge of men who were incapable of
appreciating the high motives that led to them; and then I sung part of
the 10th Psalm, likewise in spirit; but, for all these efforts, my
sinful doubts returned, so that when my illustrious friend joined me,
and proffered me the choice of two gilded rapiers, I declined accepting
any of them, and began, in a very bold and energetic manner, to express
my doubts regarding the justification of all the deeds of perfect men.
He chided me severely and branded me with cowardice, a thing that my
nature never was subject to; and then he branded me with falsehood and
breach of the most solemn engagements both to God and man.

I was compelled to take the rapier, much against my inclination; but,
for all the arguments, threats, and promises that he could use, I would
not consent to send a challenge to my brother by his mouth. There was
one argument only that he made use of which had some weight with me,
but yet it would not preponderate. He told me my brother was gone to a
notorious and scandalous habitation of women, and that, if I left him
to himself for ever so short a space longer, it might embitter his
state through ages to come. This was a trying concer