Jack made a hopeless gesture with his hand. He felt dazed. The whole thing was ridiculous; how Miles would laugh afterwards. He went cold. There would be no “afterwards.”⁠ ⁠… Miles would never know.⁠ ⁠… He would be given over to the authorities, and Miles would never know that he had helped Jack Carstares to the scaffold.⁠ ⁠… Perhaps, too, he would not mind so very much, now that he, Jack, was so disgraced. One could never tell; even if he risked everything now, and told his true identity, Miles might turn away from him in disgust; Miles, who could never stoop to a dishonourable act. Carstares felt that he would bear anything sooner than face this man’s scorn.⁠ ⁠…

“Never tell me ’tis a dumb man ye are, for I heard ye shout meself! Do ye give me your word of honour, or must I have ye bound?”