But the idea I got was this.

Considerin' I killed him after all, and so to speak disappointed them, I reckoned I'd take upon myself the care of that family and send 'em money every month." The Colonel slightly straitened his clean-shaven mouth.

"A kind of expiation or amercement by fine, known to the Mosaic, Roman, and old English law.

Gad, sir, the Jews might have made you MARRY his widow or sister.

An old custom, and I think superseded--sir, properly superseded--by the alternative of ordeal by battle in the mediaeval times.