ide the room.
"I hope," he added, "you are satisfied now, Mr. Finigan."

"I see," replied Sam, "that you've kissed the book when you were made to
do it; but I see jist as clearly that the sorra much truth are we goin'
to get out of yoU."

The case then proceeded; but as it would prove, probably, rather
tiresome to the generality of our readers, we shall not give it at
length. It was quite evident, however, that the plaintiff and defendant
both were well acquainted with the vacillating and timid character of
the magistrate, who in the case before us was uniformly swayed by the
words of the last speaker; and it was equally evident that each speaker
so shaped his arguments as that they might the more effectually bear
upon O'Driscol's weak points.

"Hem--hem--this, I persave, turns out to be a very important and
difficult case, Mr. Purcel--a very difficult case, Hourigan--a--a--a
case indeed that requires great deliberation and coolness. Here is
strong provocation on one hand, and prompt punishment on the other. Can
you swear, Mr. Purcel, to the accuracy and substance of the language you
say Hourigan uttered?"

"Certainly, sir, without hesitation."

"Because if he does, Hourigan, I shall be obliged, according to Act of
Parliament, sir--"

Hourigan interrupted him by a groan, and a rather significant shrug.

"What do you shrug and groan for, sir?" asked the man of law, who felt
both acts incompatible with the respect due to the court.

"Mavrone!" exclaimed Hourigan, "acts of Parliament! oh! thin many a
bitther piece of cruelty and injustice has been practised upon us by Act
o' Parliament!"

"Ho, you traisonable villain!" exclaimed the other--"what sedition is
this?"

"It is sich Acts o' Parliament," said the adroit knave, "that gets
good men and good magistrates shot like dogs, an' that has brought the
counthry to the fearful pass it's in, I wisht myself I was out of it,
for the people is beginnin' to single out sich magistrates as they'll
shoot, as if their lives worn't worth a rat's."

"Ah!--hem--hem--Hourigan, you are a d--d ras--hem simple-hearted fellow,
I think, or you wouldn't spake as you do.

"But an I to get not justice sir, against the man that left me as you
see me. Is the poor man, sir, to be horse-whipped and cut up at the will
an' pleasure of the rich, an'not to get either law or justice?"

O'Driscol's face was now a picture of most ludicrous embarrassment and
distress.

"Certainly, Hourigan