hing;
"divil a doubt of it."

"How did you come by the name of 'Larry the Flail'?"

"They gave me the name up at Mulhuldad there, for bating one M'Clancy
with a flail."

"A very good reason. So you got the name because you beat a certain
M'Clancy with a flail?"

"I didn't say that; I only said they gave me the name because they said
I bate him."

"Were you ever called 'Fire-the-Haggard'?"

"I was, often."

"For no reason, of course?"

"Divil a may son. The boys said it in sport, just as they talk of yer
honor out there in the hall."

"How do you mean,--talk of me?"

"Sure I heard them say myself, as I was coming in, that you wor a clever
man and a 'cute lawyer. They do be always humbugging that way."

A titter ran round the benches of the barristers at this speech, which
was delivered with a naive simplicity that would deceive many.

"You were a United Irishman, Mr. M'Keown, I believe?" rejoined the
counsel, with a frown of stern intimidation.

"Yes, sir; and a White Boy, and a Defender, and a Thrasher besides. I
was in all the fun them times."

"The Thrashers are the fellows, I believe, who must beat any man they
are appointed to attack; isn't that so?"

"Yes, sir."

"So that, if I was mentioned to you as a person to be assaulted,
although I had never done you any injury, you 'd not hesitate to waylay
me?"

"No, sir, I wouldn't do that. I'd not touch yer honor."

"Come, come; what do you mean? Why wouldn't you touch me?"

"I' d rather not tell, av it was plazing to ye."

"You must tell, sir; speak out! Why wouldn't you attack me?"

"They say, sir," said Darby,--and as he spoke, his voice assumed a
peculiar lisp, meant to express great modesty,--"they say, sir, that
when a man has a big wart on his nose there, like yer honor, it's not
lucky to bate him, for that's the way the divil marks his own."

This time the decorum of the court gave way entirely, and the unwashed
faces which filled the avenues and passages were all expanded in open
laughter; nor was it easy to restore order again amid the many marks of
approval and encouragement bestowed on Darby by his numerous admirers.

"Remember where you are, sir," said the judge, severely.

"Yes, my lord," said Darby, with an air of submission. "'T is the first
time I was ever in sich a situation as this. I 'm much more at my ease
when I 'm down in the dock there; it's what I 'm most used to, God help
me."

The whining tone in which he delive