on't want to bother. I only wanted to ask some one's opinion
in a general way."

"Well, what's the point?"

"Why this," said Dacres, after a little hesitation. "You've heard of
outlawry?"

"Should think I had--Robin Hood and his merry men, Lincoln green,
Sherwood Forest, and all that sort of thing, you know. But what the
mischief sets you thinking about Robin Hood?"

"Oh, I don't mean that rot. I mean real outlawry--when a fellow's in
debt, you know."

"Well?"

"Well; if he goes out of the country, and stays away a certain number
of years, the debt's outlawed, you know."

"The deuce it is! Is it, though? _I've_ been in debt, but I always
managed to pull through without getting so far. But that's convenient
for some fellows too."

"I'm a little muddy about it, but I've heard something to this effect.
I think the time is seven years. If the debt is not acknowledged
during the interval, it's outlawed. And now, 'pon my life, my dear
fellow, I really don't know but that I've jumbled up some fragments of
English law with American. I felt that I was muddy, and so I thought
I'd ask you."

"Don't know any more about it than about the antediluvians."

"It's an important point, and I should like to have it looked up."

"Well, get a lawyer here; half London is on the Continent. But still,
my dear fellow, I don't see what you're driving at. You're not in
debt?"

"No--this isn't debt; but it struck me that this might possibly apply
to other kinds of contracts."

"Oh!"

"Yes."

"How--such as what, for instance?"

"Well, you see, I thought, you know, that all contracts might be
included under it; and so I thought that if seven years or so annulled
all contracts, it might have some effect, you know, upon--the--the--the
marriage contract, you know."

At this Hawbury started up, stared at Dacres, gave a loud whistle, and
then exclaimed,

"By Jove!"

"I may be mistaken," said Dacres, modestly.

"Mistaken? Why, old chap, you're mad. Marriage? Good Lord! don't you
know nothing can abrogate that? Of course, in case of crime, one can
get a divorce; but there is no other way. Seven years? By Jove! A good
idea that. Why, man, if that were so, the kingdom would be
depopulated. Husbands running off from wives, and wives from husbands,
to pass the required seven years abroad. By Jove! You see, too,
there's another thing, my boy. Marriage is a sacrament, and you've not
only got to untie the civil knot, but the clerical