Quick question - and its coming from a religious Jewish point of view. Towards the end of the story Hester is happy that at 120 years he can slip and break his neck and it will be his own fault. Why 120 years? According to the Jewish religion man (and woman for that matter ) can only live for 20 years, That's because 120 is how long Moses lived. And *no one* can live longer that Moses. Is that the reference?