don't--exactly--know the nature of the business, gentlemen,' said
Father Roach, with considerable hesitation.

'_Urgent_, however, it _was_--wasn't it?' said Devereux.

'Urgent--well; _certainly_--a--and----'

'And a summons there was no resisting--from a lady--eh? You said so,
Father Roach,' persisted Devereux.

'A--from a leedy--a--yes--certainly,' replied he.

'A _widow_--is not she?' enquired Devereux.

'A widda, undoubtedly,' said the priest.

'Thay no more Thir,' said little Puddock, to the infinite relief of the
reverend father, who flung another look of reproach at Devereux, and
muttered his indignation to himself. 'I'm perfectly satisfied; and so, I
venture to thay, is Lieutenant O'Flaherty----'

'Is not he going to say something to Nutter?' enquired Devereux.

'Yes,' whispered Puddock, 'I hope he'll get through it. I--I wrote a few
sentences myself; but he's by no means perfect--in fact, between
ourselves, he's a somewhat slow study.'

'Suppose you purge his head again, Puddock?' Puddock did not choose to
hear the suggestion: but Nutter, in reply to a complimentary speech from
Puddock, declared, in two or three words, his readiness to meet
Lieutenant O'Flaherty half-way; 'and curse me, Sir, if I know, at this
moment, what I did or said to offend him.'

Then came a magnanimous, but nearly unintelligible speech from
O'Flaherty, prompted by little Puddock, who, being responsible for the
composition, was more nervous during the delivery of that remarkable
oration, than the speaker himself; and 'thuffered indethcribably' at
hearing his periods mangled; and had actually to hold O'Flaherty by the
arm, and whisper in an agony--'not yet--_curthe_ it--not yet'--to
prevent the incorrigible fireworker from stretching forth his bony red
hand before he had arrived at that most effective passage which Puddock
afterwards gave so well in private for Dick Devereux, beginning, 'and
thus I greet----'

Thus was there a perfect reconciliation, and the gentlemen of the club,
Toole included, were more than ever puzzled to understand the origin of
the quarrel, for Puddock kept O'Flaherty's secret magnificently, and
peace prevailed in O'Flaherty's breast until nearly ten months
afterwards, when Cluffe, who was talking of the American war, asked
O'Flaherty, who was full of volunteering, how he would like a 'clean
shave with an Indian scalping knife,' whereupon O'Flaherty stood erect,
and having glowered about him for a mom