"A thief--my wall!" repeated Master Carter. "Oh well is thy poor
mother in her grave!"

"--Why, therefore I came for money," I wound up, sipping the wine,
and nodding to all present.

'Twas at this moment that, catching my eye, the Prince Maurice
slapp'd his leg, and leaning back, broke into peal after peal of
laughter. And in a moment his brother took the jest also; and there
we three sat and shook, and roar'd unquenchably round Master Carter,
who, staring blankly from one to another, sat gaping, as though the
last alarm were sounding in his ears.

"Oh! oh! oh! Hit me on the back, Maurice!"

"Oh! oh! I cannot--'tis killing me--Master Carter, for pity's sake,
look not so; but pay the lad his money."

"Your Highness----"

"Pay it I say; pay it: 'tis fairly won."

"Fifty pounds!"

"Every doit," said I: "I'm sick of schooling."

"Be hang'd if I do!" snapp'd Master Carter.

"Then be hang'd, sir, but all the town shall hear to-morrow of the
frog and the pool! No, sir: I am off to see the world----