"Very easily for you, doubtless," retorted Roupall; "you had ever the way, master, of keeping your neck out of the noose. How much of the coin did you say?" Barbara did not hear the reply. "Why it's only one more. Is he young?" "Yes." "I don't like young customers. It's a charity to put the old out of the way; for, be they ever so well off, they must be sick and weary of the world. But the young--I don't like it, master." "Pshaw! it's only saving him in time from that which gives old men trouble; and life can go but once: besides, I will not stand for the matter of a few broad-pieces. I care not if I make the sum half as much more, provided it be done safely." "Will you give me your note of hand to it?" "Do you take me for a fool?--or did you ever know me to break my word?" "I never took ye for the first, Sir Willmott, and, as to the other, we've had no business between us lately. Half as much more, you said?" "Half as much more." "Well, it is but one, and then--ah! ah! ah!--I'll reform and turn gentleman. No, d--n it, I hate gentlemen, they're so unprincipled; but you must double--double or quits." "Jack Roupall, you are an unconscionable scoundrel." "By the lady-moon, then, there be a pair of us." Burrell muttered some reply that Barbara did not hear, but again the grating voice of Roupall ascended. "Double or quits; Lord, ye needn't be so touchy about a little word of familiarity--such fellowship makes all men equal." "Well then, double, if so it must be; only remember, Roupall, there is some difference between the employer and the employed," was the knight's answer. And the high-born and the low-born ruffian walked away together; and the bright beams of the holy moon and the unsullied stars fell upon them as gently, as if they had been good and faithful ministers of the Almighty's will. The two leading features of Barbara Iverk's character were, fidelity and affection; all her feelings and actions were but various modifications of these great principles--in every sense of the word, she was simple-minded. After the men had departed for some time, still she could hardly bring herself to understand or believe the nature or extent of the crime they meditated.