“Well. I think we ought to get rid of them.” “We can’t, with Olivia.” “There may be letters ordering us to give him up.” “Then we shall have to cut and run for it.” “Now why go in for these heroics?” “Because--I don’t know. When I was a young man I framed a certain scheme of life, I suppose. There it is.” “We’re only putting off the evil day.” “Why? What makes you think that?” “Supposing we do cut and run for it. What are you going to do? How about your merchandise? Where are you going to take them? Olivia must know some day. They can’t go back to England. It’s only merciful to tell her.” “Who is to tell her? Who is to go to her and say, ‘Olivia, your husband’s a forger.’ It’s impossible, Edward.” “Well, I think we ought to tell her.” “Very well then. Go in and tell her. You can’t.” “I will.” “No. Sit down. Look here. I used to know Howard, the present Governor, years ago. Suppose this. Suppose I could get him to waive the arrest. That is, if we find an arrest has been ordered. And we could persuade. I want to spare that poor girl. He might get them to settle, give him an appointment--anything. Make him his secretary.” “And what sort of life would Olivia have?” “A better one than on the Main, surely.” “It’s a difficult row to hoe.” “It is.” “Let’s make a sangaree. Will you have some if I make some?” “No. Let’s go into this with clear heads. It might be better to tell Olivia. But it’ll break her heart.” “She’s got to suffer some day. And her heart won’t break.” “My God, though, Edward, do think what she is, think of her life. Think what. To have her husband driven in a cart and hanged.” “Yes. But it’s surely a worse tragedy for him not to be hanged, and to go on living with her.” “I know. It is. But she loves him.” “Comic devils, women. Aren’t they?” “I don’t understand you.” “Well. Look here. I suppose he would be hanged?” “I shouldn’t think there’s a doubt of it.” “And the question is, how to get rid of Stukeley and spare Olivia?” “No. How to spare Olivia. Settle them in Virginia, I say.” “In the first place, the Governor might not allow it. And in the second place, my dear man, you simply can’t leave Olivia in a land where---- Well. A savage land.” “What do you know of the land?” “I don’t know anything of the land.” “What makes you think it to be savage?” “It’s common talk. The sailors.” “What do the sailors say about it?” “They say it’s ‘the hell of a place.’ ‘The last place God made, and He forgot to finish it.’” “What do they know of Virginia?” “They’ve been there.” “Yes. But what do sailors know of any country?” “They go ashore.” “What for?” “To load and unload their cargoes.” “To roll casks in the sun?” “Well. Yes.” “Do they like that?” “No.” “What else do they do when they go ashore?” “They go exploring.” “What? The brothels?” “Yes. And the country, too.” “Are there any roads?”