“Why not get a lawyer?”

“An Italian lawyer’s no use.”

“Well, English lawyers are to be found.  I dare say there are twenty within five minutes’ distance of this place.”

“Oh, I don’t want to bother.  I only wanted to ask some one’s opinion in a general way.”

“Well, what’s the point?”

“Why this,” said Dacres, after a little hesitation.  “You’ve heard of outlawry?”

“Should think I had—­Robin Hood and his merry men, Lincoln green, Sherwood Forest, and all that sort of thing, you know.  But what the mischief sets you thinking about Robin Hood?”

“Oh, I don’t mean that rot.  I mean real outlawry—­when a fellow’s in debt, you know.”

“Well?”

“Well; if he goes out of the country, and stays away a certain number of years, the debt’s outlawed, you know.”

“The deuce it is!  Is it, though? I’ve been in debt, but I always managed to pull through without getting so far.  But that’s convenient for some fellows too.”

“I’m a little muddy about it, but I’ve heard something to this effect.  I think the time is seven years.  If the debt is not acknowledged during the interval, it’s outlawed.  And now, ’pon my life, my dear fellow, I really don’t know but that I’ve jumbled up some fragments of English law with American.  I felt that I was muddy, and so I thought I’d ask you.”

“Don’t know any more about it than about the antediluvians.”

“It’s an important point, and I should like to have it looked up.”

“Well, get a lawyer here; half London is on the Continent.  But still, my dear fellow, I don’t see what you’re driving at.  You’re not in debt?”

“No—­this isn’t debt; but it struck me that this might possibly apply to other kinds of contracts.”

“Oh!”

“Yes.”

“How—­such as what, for instance?”

“Well, you see, I thought, you know, that all contracts might be included under it; and so I thought that if seven years or so annulled all contracts, it might have some effect, you know, upon—­the—­the—­the marriage contract, you know.”

At this Hawbury started up, stared at Dacres, gave a loud whistle, and then exclaimed,

“By Jove!”

“I may be mistaken,” said Dacres, modestly.

“Mistaken?  Why, old chap, you’re mad.  Marriage?  Good Lord! don’t you know nothing can abrogate that?  Of course, in case of crime, one can get a divorce; but there is no other way.  Seven years?  By Jove!  A good idea that.  Why, man, if that were so, the kingdom would be depopulated.  Husbands running off from wives, and wives from husbands, to pass the required seven years abroad.  By Jove!  You see, too, there’s another thing, my boy.  Marriage is a sacrament, and you’ve not only got to untie the civil knot, but the clerical one, my boy.  No, no; there’s no help for it.  You gave your word, old chap, ’till death do us part,’ and you’re in for it.”