and I will show it you to-morrow."

With that, as if all were quite settled, and settled exactly to his

mind, he walked off to his tent, whither Secundra had preceded him.

I cannot think of these last turns and wriggles of my old enemy

except with admiration; scarce even pity is mingled with the

sentiment, so strongly the man supported, so boldly resisted his

misfortunes. Even at that hour, when he perceived himself quite

lost, when he saw he had but effected an exchange of enemies, and

overthrown Harris to set Hastie up, no sign of weakness appeared in

his behaviour, and he withdrew to his tent, already determined (I

must suppose) upon affronting the incredible hazard of his last

expedient, with the same easy, assured, genteel expression and

demeanour as he might have left a theatre withal to join a supper

of the wits. But doubtless within, if we could see there, his soul

trembled.

Early in the night, word went about the camp that he was sick; and

the first thing the next morning he called Hastie to his side, and

inquired most anxiously if he had any skill in medicine. As a

matter of fact, this was a vanity of that fallen divinity

student's, to which he had cunningly addressed himself. Hastie

examined him; and being flattered, ignorant, and highly auspicious,

knew not in the least whether the man was sick or malingering. In

this state he went forth again to his companions; and (as the thing

which would give himself most consequence either way) announced

that the patient was in a fair way to die.

"For all that," he added with an oath, "and if he bursts by the

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peking2008