Page:The Works of the Rev. Jonathan Swift, Volume 17.djvu/239

Rh little into the means by which they intend to deliver me: a rope and a noose are no jesting matters!

H. Why so mistrustful? hast thou ever found us false to thee? I tell thee, there is one ready to cut thee down.

J. May I presume to ask who it is, that is intrusted with so important an office?

H. Is there no end of thy hows and thy whys? That's a secret.

J. A secret, perhaps, that I may be safely trusted with, for I am not likely to tell it again. I tell you plainly, it is no strange thing for a man, before he hangs himself up, to inquire who is to cut him down.

H. Thou suspicious creature! if thou must needs know it, I tell thee it is sir Roger : he has been in tears ever since thy misfortune. Don Diego and we have laid it so, that he is to be in the next room, and before the rope is well about thy neck, rest satisfied, he will break in and cut thee down: fear not, old boy; we'll do it, I'll warrant thee.

J. So I must hang myself up upon hopes that sir Roger will cut me down, and all this upon the credit of don Diego: a fine stratagem indeed to save my life, that depends upon hanging, don Diego, and sir Roger.

H. I tell thee there is a mystery in all this, my friend, a piece of profound policy; if thou knewest what good this will do to the common cause, thy heart would leap for joy: I am sure thou wouldst not delay the experiment one moment. J.