_Mast_. Well, I won't examine you too far. If you were never before a court of justice, and are not a criminal transported, I have nothing further to inquire of you. You have been ill used, that's certain; and was it that that affected you?
_Jacque_. Yes, indeed, please your honour. (We all called him his honour, or his worship.)
_Mast_. Well, now I do know your case, what can I do for you? You speak of a bill of £94 of which you would have given the captain £40 for your liberty; have you that bill in your keeping still?
I pulled it out of the waistband of my drawers, where I always found means to preserve it, wrapped up in a piece of paper, and pinned to the waistband, and yet almost worn out, too, with often pinning and removing. So I gave it to him to read, and he read it.
_Mast_. And is this gentleman in being that gave you the bill?
_Jacque_. Yes, sir; he was alive and in good health when I came from London, which you may see by the date of the bill, for I came away the next day.
_Mast_. I do not wonder that the captain of the ship was willing to get this bill of you when you came on shore here.
_Jacque_. I would have given it into his possession if he would have carried me and my brother back again to England, and have taken what he asked for us out of it.
_Mast_. Ay; but he knew better than that, too. He knew, if he had any friends there, they would call him to an account for what he had done. But I wonder he did not take it from you while you were at sea, either by fraud or by force.
_Jacque_. He did not attempt that indeed.
_Mast_. Well, young man, I have a mind to try if I can do you any service in this case. On my word, if the money can be paid, and you can get it safe over, I might put you in a way how to be a better man than your master, if you will be honest and diligent.
_Jacque_. As I have behaved myself in your service, sir, you will, I hope, judge of the rest.
_Mast_. But perhaps you hanker after returning to England?
_Jacque_. No, indeed, sir; if I can but get my bread honestly here, I have no mind to go to England; for I know not how to get my bread there. If I had, I had not 'listed for a soldier.
_Mast_. Well, but I must ask you some questions about that part hereafter; for 'tis indeed something strange that you should list for a soldier when you had £94 in your pocket.