"Well, my dear fellow," said Hawbury, cheerfully, "how waves the flag now? Are you hauling it down, or are you standing to your guns? Toss over the cigars, and give an account of yourself." "Do you know any thing about law, Hawbury?" was Dacres's answer. "Law?" "Yes." "No, not much. But what in the world makes you ask such a question as that? Law! No--not I." "Well, there's a point that I should like to ask somebody about." "Why not get a lawyer?" "An Italian lawyer's no use." "Well, English lawyers are to be found. I dare say there are twenty within five minutes' distance of this place." "Oh, I don'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.