My good woman, you had better not inquire
after him; he was born to be hanged."
"But when will that happen, sir?"
"Your fate and his are so closely united, that, whenever he swings, you
will swing. You will both hang together from the same gallows; so that,
in point of fact, you need not give yourself much trouble about the time
of his suspension, because I see it written here in the book of fate,
that the same hangman who swings you off, will swing him off at the same
moment. You'll 'lie lovingly together; and when he puts his tongue out
at those who will attend his execution, so will you; and when he dances
his last jig in their presence, so will you. Are you now satisfied?"
"Troth, and I'm very fond o' the vagabone, although he's the worst
friend I ever had. But you won't tell me where he is? and I know why,
because, with all your pretended knowledge, the devil a know you know."
"Are you sure of that?"
"Ay, cocksure."
"Then I can tell you that he is sitting on the chair there, opposite me.
Go about your business, Rody, and rant elsewhere; you may impose upon
others, but not upon a man that can penetrate the secrets of human life
as I can.
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