_O'Ded._ That's it; he's a sensible man; and that's more than his wife is. We've nothing to do with women's tears. _Ponder._ Not a bit. So they walked him off to jail in a jiffey, if I may be allowed the expression. _O'Ded._ To be sure, and that was right. They did their duty: though for sartin, if a poor man can't pay his debts when he's at liberty, he wont be much nearer the mark when he's shut up in idleness in a prison. _Ponder._ No. _O'Ded._ And when he that sent them there comes to make up his last account, 'tis my belief that he wont be able to show cause why a bill shouldn't be filed against him for barbarity. Are the writings all ready for sir Rowland? _Ponder._ All ready. Shall I now go to farmer Flail's with the letter? _O'Ded._ Aye, and if you see Shuttle's wife in your way, give my service to her; and d'ye hear, as you're a small talker, don't let the little you say be so cursed crabbed; and if a few kind words of comfort should find their way from your heart to your tongue, don't shut your ugly mouth, and keep them within your teeth. You may tell her that if she can find any body to stand up for her husband, I shan't be over nice about the sufficiency of the bail. Get you gone. _Ponder_ I shall. Let me see! farmer Flail--Mrs. Muddle, his neighbour--Shuttle's wife--and a whole string of messages and memorandums--here's business enough to bother the brains of any ordinary man! You are pleased to say, sir, that I am too much addicted to thinking--I think _not_. [_Exit Ponder._ _O'Ded._ By my soul, if an attorney wasn't sometimes a bit of a rogue, he'd never be able to earn an honest livelihood. Oh Mr. O'Dedimus! why have you so little when your heart could distribute so much! Sir Rowland, _without_. _Sir Row._ Mr. O'Dedimus--within there! _O'Ded._ Yes, I'm within there. _Enter_ sir Rowland. _Sir Row._ Where are these papers? I thought the law's delay was only felt by those who could not pay for its expedition. _O'Ded._ The law, sir Rowland, is a good horse, and his pace is slow and sure; but he goes no faster because you goad him with a golden spur; but every thing is prepared, sir; and now, sir Rowland, I have an ugly sort of an awkward affair to mention to you. _Sir Row._ Does it concern _me_? _O'Ded._ You know, sir Rowland, at the death of my worthy friend, the late lord Austencourt, you were left sole executor and guardian to his son, the present lord, then an infant of three years of age. _Sir Row._ What does this lead to? (_starting_) _O'Ded._ With a disinterested view to benefit the estate of the minor, who came of age the other day, you some time ago embarked a capital of 14,000l. in a great undertaking. _Sir Row._ Proceed.