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at there fell on him a storm of abuse； which； for the honor of that gallant company； I shall not give in detail； but which abuse； strange to say； seemed to have no effect on the impenitent and unabashed Jack； who； as soon as he could get his breath； made answer fiercely； amid much puffing and blowing。
〃What business have I here？ As much as any of you。 If you had asked me in； I would have come： but as you didn't； I came without asking。〃
〃You shameless rascal！〃 said Cary。 〃Come if you were asked； where there was good wine？ I'll warrant you for that！〃
〃Why；〃 said Amyas； 〃no lad ever had a cake at school but he would dog him up one street and down another all day for the crumbs； the trencher…scraping spaniel！〃
〃Patience； masters！ 〃said Frank。 〃That Jack's is somewhat of a gnathonic and parasitic soul； or stomach； all Bideford apple…women know； but I suspect more than Deus Venter has brought him hither。〃
〃Deus eavesdropping； then。 We shall have the whole story over the town by to…morrow；〃 said another； beginning at that thought to feel somewhat ashamed of his late enthusiasm。
〃Ah； Mr。 Frank！ You were always the only one that would stand up for me！ Deus Venter； quotha？ 'Twas Deus Cupid； it was！〃
A roar of laughter followed this announcement。
〃What？〃 asked Frank； 〃was it Cupid； then； who sneezed approval to our love； Jack； as he did to that of Dido and Aeneas？〃
But Jack went on desperately。
〃I was in the next room； drinking of my beer。 I couldn't help that； could I？ And then I heard her name； and I couldn't help listening then。 Flesh and blood couldn't。〃
〃Nor fat either！〃
〃No； nor fat； Mr。 Cary。 Do you suppose fat men haven't souls to be saved as well as thin ones； and hearts to burst； too； as well as stomachs？ Fat！ Fat can feel； I reckon； as well as lean。 Do you suppose there's naught inside here but beer？〃
And he laid his hand； as Drayton might have said； on that stout bastion； hornwork； ravelin； or demilune； which formed the outworks to the citadel of his purple isle of man。
〃Naught but beer？Cheese； I suppose？〃
〃Bread？〃
〃Beef？〃
〃Love！〃 cried Jack。 〃Yes； Love！Ay； you laugh； but my eyes are not so grown up with fat but what I can see what's fair as well as you。〃
〃Oh； Jack； naughty Jack； dost thou heap sin on sin； and luxury on gluttony？〃
〃Sin？ If I sin； you sin： I tell you； and I don't care who knows it； I've loved her these three years as well as e'er a one of you； I have。 I've thought o' nothing else； prayed for nothing else； God forgive me！ And then you laugh at me； because I'm a poor parson's son； and you fine gentlemen： God made us both； I reckon。 You？you make a deal of giving her up to…day。 Why； it's what I've done for three miserable years as ever poor sinner spent； ay； from the first day I said to myself； 'Jack； if you can't have that pearl； you'll have none； and that you can't have； for it's meat for your masters： so conquer or die。' And I couldn't conquer。 I can't help loving her； worshipping her； no more than you； and I will die： but you needn't laugh meanwhile at me that have done as much as you； and will do again。〃
〃It is the old tale；〃 said Frank to himself； 〃whom will not love transform into a hero？〃
And so it was。 Jack's squeaking voice was firm and manly； his pig's eyes flashed very fire； his gestures were so free and earnest； that the ungainliness of his figure was forgotten； and when he finished with a violent burst of tears； Frank； forgetting his wounds； sprang up and caught him by the hand。
〃John Brimblecombe； forgive me！ Gentlemen； if we are gentlemen； we ought to ask his pardon。 Has he not shown already more chivalry； more self…denial； and therefore more true love； than any of us？ My friends； let the fierceness of affection； which we have used as an excuse for many a sin of our own； excuse his listening to a conversation in which he well deserved to bear a part。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Jack； 〃you make me one of your brotherhood； and see if I do not dare to suffer as much as any of you！ You laugh？ Do you fancy none can use a sword unless he has a baker's dozen of quarterings in his arms； or that Oxford scholars know only how to handle a pen？〃
〃Let us try his metal；〃 said St。 Leger。 〃Here's my sword； Jack； draw； Coffin！ and have at him。〃
〃Nonsense！〃 said Coffin； looking somewhat disgusted at the notion of fighting a man of Jack's rank； but Jack caught at the weapon offered to him。
〃Give me a buckler； and have at any of you！〃
〃Here's a chair bottom；〃 cried Cary； and Jack； seizing it in his left； flourished his sword so fiercely； and called so loudly to Coffin to come on； that all present found it necessary； unless they wished blood to be spilt； to turn the matter off with a laugh： but Jack would not hear of it。
〃Nay： if you will let me be of your brotherhood； well and good： but if not； one or other I will fight： and that's flat。〃
〃You see； gentlemen；〃 said Amyas； 〃we must admit him or die the death； so we needs must go when Sir Urian drives。 Come up； Jack； and take the oaths。 You admit him； gentlemen？〃
〃Let me but be your chaplain；〃 said Jack； 〃and pray for your luck when you're at the wars。 If I do stay at home in a country curacy； 'tis not much that you need be jealous of me with her； I reckon；〃 said Jack； with a pathetical glance at his own stomach。
〃Sia！〃 said Cary： 〃but if he be admitted； it must be done according to the solemn forms and ceremonies in such cases provided。 Take him into the next room； Amyas； and prepare him for his initiation。〃
〃What's that？〃 asked Amyas； puzzled by the word。 But judging from the corner of Will's eye that initiation was Latin for a practical joke； he led forth his victim behind the arras again； and waited five minutes while the room was being darkened； till Frank's voice called to him to bring in the neophyte。
〃John Brimblecombe；〃 said Frank； in a sepulchral tone； 〃you cannot be ignorant； as a scholar and bachelor of Oxford； of that dread sacrament by which Catiline bound the soul of his fellow… conspirators； in order that both by the daring of the deed he might have proof of their sincerity； and by the horror thereof astringe their souls by adamantine fetters； and Novem…Stygian oaths； to that wherefrom hereafter the weakness of the flesh might shrink。 Wherefore； O Jack！ we too have determined； following that ancient and classical example； to fill； as he did； a bowl with the lifeblood of our most heroic selves； and to pledge each other therein； with vows whereat the stars shall tremble in their spheres； and Luna； blushing； veil her silver cheeks。 Your blood alone is wanted to fill up the goblet。 Sit down； John Brimblecombe； and bare your arm！〃
〃But； Mr。 Frank！〃said Jack； who was as superstitious as any old wife； and； what with the darkness and the discourse； already in a cold perspiration。
〃But me no buts！ or depart as recreant； not by the door like a man； but up the chimney like a flittermouse。〃
〃But； Mr。 Frank！〃
〃Thy vital juice； or the chimney！ Choose！〃 roared Cary in his ear。
〃Well； if I must；〃 said Jack； 〃but it's desperate hard that because you can't keep faith without these barbarous oaths； I must take them too； that have kept faith t