“Will he post the cole?  Will he come down with the dues?  Ask him that?” cried Blueskin.

“You hear,” pursued Jonathan; “my friend desires to know if you are willing to pay your footing as a member of the ancient and respectable fraternity of debtors?”

“I owe no man a farthing, and my name shall never appear in any such rascally list,” replied Wood angrily.  “I don’t see why I should be obliged to pay for doing my duty.  I tell you this child would have been strangled.  The noose was at its throat when I called for help.  I knew it was in vain to cry ‘murder!’ in the Mint, so I had recourse to stratagem.”

“Well, Sir, I must say you deserve some credit for your ingenuity, at all events,” replied Jonathan, repressing a smile; “but, before you put out your foot so far, it would have been quite as prudent to consider how you were to draw it back again.  For my own part, I don’t see in what way it is to be accomplished, except by the payment of our customary fees.  Do not imagine you can at one moment avail yourself of our excellent regulations (with which you seem sufficiently well acquainted), and the next break them with impunity.  If you assume the character of a debtor for your own convenience, you must be content to maintain it for ours.  If you have not been arrested, we have been disturbed; and it is but just and reasonable you should pay for occasioning such disturbance.  By your own showing you are in easy circumstances,—­for it is only natural to presume that a man who owes nothing must be in a condition to pay liberally,—­and you cannot therefore feel the loss of such a trifle as ten guineas.”

However illogical and inconclusive these arguments might appear to Mr. Wood, and however he might dissent from the latter proposition, he did not deem it expedient to make any reply; and the orator proceeded with his harangue amid the general applause of the assemblage.

“I am perhaps exceeding my authority in demanding so slight a sum,” continued Jonathan, modestly, “and the Master of the Mint may not be disposed to let you off so lightly.  He will be here in a moment or so, and you will then learn his determination.  In the mean time, let me advise you as a friend not to irritate him by a refusal, which would be as useless as vexatious.  He has a very summary mode of dealing with refractory persons, I assure you.  My best endeavours shall be used to bring you off, on the easy terms I have mentioned.”

“Do you call ten guineas easy terms?” cried Wood, with a look of dismay.  “Why, I should expect to purchase the entire freehold of the Mint for less money.”

“Many a man has been glad to pay double the amount to get his head from under the Mint pump,” observed Blueskin, gruffly.

“Let the gentleman take his own course,” said Jonathan, mildly.  “I should be sorry to persuade him to do anything his calmer judgment might disapprove.”

“Exactly my sentiments,” rejoined Blueskin.  “I wouldn’t force him for the world:  but if he don’t tip the stivers, may I be cursed if he don’t get a taste of the aqua pompaginis.  Let’s have a look at the kinchen that ought to have been throttled,” added he, snatching the child from Wood.  “My stars! here’s a pretty lullaby-cheat to make a fuss about—­ho! ho!”