“Simulacrum! no! no! no such oath for me! That's swearing by the thing that is not, was not--could not be! You shall swear by the oaths of the club--you must be bound on the gridiron of the fraternity, before I believe you. Swear!” “You are as tenacious as the ghost of buried Denmark But you shall be satisfied. I swear by the mystic gridiron of the fraternity, and by the legs thereof, of which the images are Beelzebub, Mohammed, Johannes Secundus, and so forth--nay, by that memorable volume, so revered in the eyes of the club, the new edition of 'The Basiad,' of which who among us has been the true exponent?--that profound mystery of sweets, fathomed hourly, yet unfathomable still--for which the commentators, already legions, are hourly becoming legions more;--by these, and by the mysteries of the mirror that reflects not our own, but the image we desire;--by these things--by all things that among the brotherhood are held potent--I swear to--” “Give me the preference in the favor of this princess; the clue to find her when you have left her; and the assurance that you will get a surfeit as soon as possible: swear!” “Nay, nay! I swear not to that last! I shall hold on while appetite holds, and make all efforts not to grow dyspeptic in a hurry. I'll keep my stomach for a dainty, be sure, as long as I can. I were no brother, worthy of our order, if I did not.” “Well, well--to the rest! Swear to the rest, and I am satisfied.” “You go back, then, instanter?” “What! this very day?” “This hour!” “The d---l! you don't mean THAT, Warham?” returned the other in some consternation. “Ay, this very hour! You must swear to that. Your oath must precede mine.” “Ah! man, remember I only got here last night--long ride--hard-trotting horse. We have not seen each other for months. I have a cursed sight to tell you about the boys--girls too--love, law, logic, politics. Do you know they talk of running you for the house?” “All in good season, Ben; not now. No, no! you shall see me when you least look for me, and there will be time enough for all these matters then. They'll keep. For the present, let me say to you that we must part now within the hour. You must swear not to dog my steps, and I will swear to give you carte blanche, and the first privileges at my princess, when I leave her. This is my bargain. I make no other.” “I've a great mind not to leave you,” said the other doggedly. “And what will that resolution bring you, do you fancy? Do you suppose I am to be tracked in such a manner? No, Ben! The effect will be to make me set off for the east instantly, whether you go with me or not; and an equally certain effect will be to make us cut loose for ever.” “You're a d---d hard colt to manage,” said the other moodily. “I sha'n't let myself be straddled by every horse-boy, I assure you.” “Come, come, old fellow, that's too much like horse-play. Don't be angry with me. I'll accept your conditions.”