can prove what
you say, you may certainly get that done, and then, I suppose, you are
free.'

'That's very tedious and expensive,' says he.

'Why,' says I, 'if you can get any woman you like to take your word, I
suppose your wife would not dispute the liberty with you that she takes
herself.'

'Ay,' says he, 'but 'twould be hard to bring an honest woman to do
that; and for the other sort,' says he, 'I have had enough of her to
meddle with any more whores.'

It occurred to me presently, 'I would have taken your word with all my
heart, if you had but asked me the question'; but that was to myself.
To him I replied, 'Why, you shut the door against any honest woman
accepting you, for you condemn all that should venture upon you at
once, and conclude, that really a woman that takes you now can't be
honest.'

'Why,' says he, 'I wish you would satisfy me that an honest woman would
take me; I'd venture it'; and then turns short upon me, 'Will you take
me, madam?'

'That's not a fair question,' says I, 'after what you have said;
however, lest you should think I wait only for a recantation of it, I
shall answer you plainly, No, not I; my business is of another kind
with you, and I did not expect you would have turned my serious
application to you, in my own distracted case, into a comedy.'

'Why, madam,' says he, 'my case is as distracted as yours can be, and I
stand in as much need of advice as you do, for I think if I have not
relief somewhere, I shall be made myself, and I know not what course to
take, I protest to you.'

'Why, sir,' says I, ''tis easy to give advice in your case, much easier
than it is in mine.' 'Speak then,' says he, 'I beg of you, for now you
encourage me.'

'Why,' says I, 'if your case is so plain as you say it is, you may be
legally divorced, and then you may find honest women enough to ask the
question of fairly; the sex is not so scarce that you can want a wife.'

'Well, then,' said he, 'I am in earnest; I'll take your advice; but
shall I ask you one question seriously beforehand?'

'Any question,' said I, 'but that you did before.'

'No, that answer will not do,' said he, 'for, in short, that is the
question I shall ask.'

'You may ask what questions you please, but you have my answer to that
already,' said I. 'Besides, sir,' said I, 'can you think so ill of me
as that I would give any answer to such a question beforehand? Can any
woman alive believe you in earnest, or think you d