very keenly at the last speaker, who to tell the truth, had
probably in his villanous features ten times more the character and
visage of a highwayman and cutthroat than the redoubtable Finnerty
himself.

"It's a wonder," said the priest, "that the unfortunate man has not been
taken."

"Hum!" exclaimed the officer; "unfortunate man. My good fellow, that's
very mild talk when speaking of a robber. Don't you know that all
robbers deserve the gallows, eh?"

"I know no such thing," replied the priest. "Many a man has lived by
robbing, in his day, that now lives by catching them; and many a poor
fellow, as honest as e'er an individual in this coach--"

"That's very shocking language," observed a thin, prim, red-nosed lady,
with a vinegar aspect, who sat erect, and apparently fearless, in the
corner of the coach--"very shocking language, indeed. Why, my good man,
should you form any such wile kimparison?"

"Never mind, ma'am; never mind," said the officer, whose name was Darby;
"let him proceed; from what he is about to say, I sha'n't be surprised
if he justifies robbery--not a bit--but will be a good deal, if he
don't. Go on, my good fellow."

"Well," proceeded the priest, "I was going to say, that many a poor
wretch, as honest as e'er an individual, man or woman--"

Here there was, on the part of the lady, an indignant toss of the head,
and a glance of supreme scorn leveled at the poor priest; whilst Darby,
like a man who had generously undertaken the management of the whole
discussion, said, with an air of conscious ability, if not something
more, "nevermind him, ma'am; give him tether."

"As honest," persisted the priest, "as e'er an individual, man or woman,
in this coach--and maybe, if the truth were known, a good deal honester
than some of them."

"Good," observed the officer; "I agree with you in that--right enough
there."

The vinegar lady, now apprehensive that her new ally had scandalously
abandoned her interests, here dropped her eyes, and crossed her hands
upon her breast, as if she had completely withdrawn herself from the
conversation.

"I finds," said she to herself, in a contemptuous soliloquy, "as how
there ain't no gentleman in this here wehicle."

"Just pay attention, ma'am," said the officer--"just pay attention,
that's all."

This, however, seemed to have no effect--at least the lady remained in
the same attitude, and made no reply.

"Suppose now," proceeded the priest, "that an unfort