"You have
nothing more to do than go softly down behind him," said he,
"which you can do to within an ell of him, without being seen;
then rush upon him, and throw him from his seat, where there is
neither footing nor hold. I will go, meanwhile, and amuse his
sight by some exhibition in the contrary direction, and he shall
neither know nor perceive who had done him this kind office: for,
exclusive of more weighty concerns, be assured of this that, the
sooner he falls, the fewer crimes will he have to answer for, and
his estate in the other world will be proportionally more tolerable
than if he spent a long unregenerate life steeped in iniquity to the
loathing of the soul."
"Nothing can be more plain or more pertinent," said I.
"Therefore, I fly to perform that which is both a duty towards
God and towards man!"
"You shall yet rise to great honour and preferment," said he.
"I value it not, provided I do honour and justice to the cause of
my master here," said I.
"You shall be lord of your father's riches and demesnes," added
he.
"I disclaim and deride every selfish motive thereto relating," said
I, "further than as it enables me to do good.
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