or all might be discovered and
put an end to."
JOHNNY B. He came over the sea from France! It is Johnny Gibbons
surely, but it seems to me they were calling him by some other name.
PAUDEEN. A man on his keeping might go by a hundred names. Would he be
telling it out to us that he never saw before, and we with that clutch
of chattering women along with us? Here he is coming now. Wait till you
see is he the lad I think him to be.
MARTIN [_coming in_]. I will make my banner; I will paint the Unicorn
on it. Give me that bit of canvas; there is paint over here. We will
get no help from the settled men--we will call to the lawbreakers, the
tinkers--the sievemakers--the sheep-stealers. [_He begins to make
banner._]
BIDDY. That sounds to be a queer name of an army. Ribbons I can
understand, Whiteboys, Rightboys, Threshers, and Peep-o'-day, but
Unicorns I never heard of before.
JOHNNY B. It is not a queer name, but a very good name. [_Takes up Lion
and Unicorn._] It is often you saw that before you in the dock. There
is the Unicorn with the one horn, and what is it he is going against?
The Lion of course. When he has the Lion destroyed, the Crown must fall
and be shivered. Can't you see? It is the League of the Unicorns is the
league that will fight and destroy the power of England and King
George.
PAUDEEN. It is with that banner we will march and the lads in the
quarry with us; it is they will have the welcome before him! It won't
be long till we'll be attacking the Square House! Arms there are in it;
riches that would smother the world; rooms full of guineas--we will put
wax on our shoes walking them; the horses themselves shod with no less
than silver!
MARTIN [_holding up the banner_]. There it is ready! We are very few
now, but the army of the Unicorns will be a great army! [_To_ JOHNNY
B.] Why have you brought me the message? Can you remember any more? Has
anything more come to you? Who told you to come to me? Who gave you the
message?... Can you see anything or hear anything that is beyond the
world?
JOHNNY B. I cannot. I don't know what do you want me to tell you at
all.
MARTIN. I want to begin the destruction, but I don't know where to
begin ... you do not hear any other voice?
JOHNNY B. I do not. I have nothing at all to do with freemasons or
witchcraft.
PAUDEEN. It is Biddy Lally has to do with witchcraft. It is often she
threw the cups and gave out prophecies the same as Columcille.
MARTI
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