On my soul, Master Sallust deserves to float on the Solway better than Mother Midnight herself.' 'Perhaps, in some respects, he may merit better usage at our hands,' said Alan; 'for if he has described vice plainly, it seems to have been for the purpose of rendering it generally abhorred.' 'Well,' said the seaman, 'I have heard of the Sortes Virgilianae, and I dare say the Sortes Sallustianae are as true every tittle.

I have consulted honest Crispus on my own account, and have had a cuff for my pains.

But now see, I open the book on your behalf, and behold what occurs first to my eye!--Lo you there--"CATILINA ...

OMNIUM FLAGITIOSORUM ATQUE FACINOROSORUM CIRCUM SE HABEBAT." And then again--"ETIAM SI QUIS A CULPA VACUUS IN AMICITIAM EJUS INCIDIDERAT QUOTIDIANO USU PAR SIMILISQUE CAETERIS EFFICIEBATUR." [After enumerating the evil qualities of Catiline's associates, the author adds, 'If it happened that any as yet uncontaminated by vice were fatally drawn into his friendship, the effects of intercourse and snares artfully spread, subdued every scruple, and early assimilated them to their conductors.'-- Ibidem, p.

19.] That is what I call plain speaking on the part of the old Roman, Mr.Fairford.By the way, that is a capital name for a lawyer.
'Lawyer as I am,' said Fairford, 'I do not understand your innuendo.' 'Nay, then,' said Ewart, 'I can try it another way, as well as the hypocritical old rascal Turnpenny himself could do.