'Then, Mr. William Halliday'--he shut the ledger with a slam--'I fear that my clients must adopt--most unwillingly, I am sure--the measures sanctioned by the law.' His eyes gleamed with a malicious satisfaction. 'I only trust that the steps we shall have to take will not disturb the mind of my much-respected client, your cousin. You will have to choose your prison, and you will remain in the--the Paradise of your choice until this money, with costs, is paid. As for your choice, the situation of the Fleet is more central: that of the Bench is more rural: beyond the new Prison there are green fields. The smell of the hay perhaps comes over the wall. Should you find a lengthened residence necessary, I believe that the rooms, though small, are comfortable. Ah! how useful would have been that three thousand pounds which you refused--at such a juncture as this.' 'If there is nothing more to be said----' I got up, not knowing what I said, and bewildered with the prospect before me. 'Heaven forbid, Sir,' he continued sweetly, 'that I should press you unduly. I will even, considering the tender heart of your cousin, extend to you the term. I will grant you twenty-four hours in which to find the money.' 'You may as well give me five minutes. I have no means of raising the sum.' 'I am sorry to hear that for the sake of my clients. However, I can only hope'--he pushed back the papers and rose with a horrible grin of malice on his face--'that you will find the air of the Prison salubrious. There have been cases of infectious fever--gaol fever, lately: perhaps the King's Bench and the Fleet are equal in this respect. Small-pox, also, is prevalent in one: but I forget which. Many persons live for years in a Prison. I hope, I am sure, that you will pass--many--many--happy years in that seclusion.' I listened to none of this ill-omened croaking, but hastened to leave him. At the door I passed the old clerk. 'Go to the King's Bench,' he whispered. 'Not to the Fleet where he'll call every day to learn whether you are dead. There is still time,' he pointed to his throat while he noisily opened the door. 'Round the neck. At the bottom of the River: the lying is more comfortable than in the King's Bench.' I had entered the house with very little hope. I left it with despair. I walked home as one in a dream, running against people, seeing nothing, hearing nothing. When I reached home I sat down in a kind of stupor. 'My dear,' I said, presently recovering, 'we are lost--we are ruined. I shall starve in a Prison. Thou wilt beg thy bread. The boy will be a gutter brat.' 'Tell me,' Alice took my hand. 'Oh! tell me all--my dear. Can we be lost if we are together?' 'We shall not be together. To-morrow I shall be in the Prison. For how long God only knows.' 'Since _He_ knows, my dear, keep up your heart. When was the righteous man forsaken? Come, let us talk. There may be some means found. If we were to pay--though we owe nothing--so much a week.'