er games up yonder. Cheer up, man! we'll find something for you
to do, though you have been so badly educated.

_C. N_. Spare me, I entreat you! Don't let it be known who I am, pray
don't, or I shall certainly be hanged. Don't hang me; give me hard
labour for life, but don't hang me! Yes, I confess I was Judge Nupkins;
but don't give me up! I'll be your servant, your slave all my life; only
don't bring me before a magistrate. They are so unfair, and so hard!

_W. J_. Well, what do you think of a judge, old fellow?

_C. N_. That's nearly as bad, but not quite; because sometimes there's a
cantankerous blackguard on the jury who won't convict, and insists on
letting a man off. But, please, pray think better of it, and let it be a
private matter, if you must needs punish me. I won't bring an action
against you, whatever you do. Don't make it a judicial matter! Look
here, I'll sign a bond to be your servant for ever without wages if you
will but feed me. I suffer so from not having my meals regularly. If
you only knew how bad it is to be hungry and not to be sure of getting a
meal.

_W. J_. Yes, Nupkins; but you see, I _do_ know only too well--but that's
all gone by. Yet, if you had only known that some time ago, or let's
say, guessed at it, it might have been the better for you now.

_C. N_. (_aside_; Oh, how jeering and hard he looks!) Oh, spare me, and
don't send me to the workhouse! You've no idea how they bully people
there. I didn't mean to be a bad or hard man; I didn't indeed.

_W. J_. Well, I must say if you meant to be anything else, you botched
the job! But I suppose, in fact, you didn't mean anything at all.--So
much the worse for you. (_Aside_: I must do a little cat and mouse with
him).

_C. N_. Oh, spare me, spare me! I'll work so hard for you. Keep it
dark as to who I am. It will be such an advantage you're having me all
to yourself.

_W. J_. Would it, indeed? Well, I doubt that.

_C. N_. Oh, I think so. I really am a good lawyer.

_W. J_. H'm, that would be rather less useful than a dead jackass--unless
one came to the conclusion of making cat's meat of you.

_C. N_. (_aside_, Oh, I'm sick at heart at his hinted threats). Mr.
Socialist, don't you see I could put you up to all sorts of dodges by
which you could get hold of odds and ends of property--as I suppose you
have some sort of property still--and the titles of the land must be very
shaky just after a revolut