practisest--'Pillage and Extortion!'"

"I cannot drink that toast, my lord. 'Twill choke me."

"'Sdeath! villain, but thou _shalt_, or thou shalt never taste wine
more. Down with it, man! And now your signature to this paper?"

"My signature!" Sir Francis cried, reeling from the effect of the wine
he had swallowed. "Nay, my good lord; I can sign nothing that I have not
read. What is it?"

"A blank sheet," Lord Roos rejoined. "I will fill it up afterwards."

"Then, my lord, I refuse--that is, I decline--that is, I had rather
not, if your lordship pleases."

"But my lordship pleases otherwise. Give him pen and ink, and set him
near the table."

This was done; and Sir Francis regarded the paper with swimming eyes.

"Now, your name,--written near the bottom of the sheet," Lord Roos
cried.

"'Tis done under com--compulsion; and I pro--protest against it."

"Sign, I say," the young nobleman exclaimed, rapping the table
peremptorily.

On this, Sir Francis wrote his name in the place indicated.