"Because they are lucky."
"Aha!"
"And why are they lucky?"
"That's what I would ask you, Master Clerk."
"And that's what I am about to tell you, Master Student."
"I shall be very glad to know."
"They are lucky,"—here the clerk lowered his voice a half-tone more,—"they are lucky because they have the rope a man was hanged with in their pocket: do you understand?"
"No."
"You're rather dull. You will make a will, eh?"
"A will! why should I?"