and, you beggarly scoundrel, what
did you say to that? Tell me, or I'll heave you, head foremost, through
the window?"

"Why," replied Darby, in a quiet, confident, and insinuating tone, "I
raisoned wid them--raisoned wid them like a Christian. 'Now, Sheemus
O'Shaughran,' says I, 'you've said what I know to be a lie. I'm not the
man to put ill between you and his honor, Mr. M'Clutchy, but at the same
time,' says I, 'I'm his sarvint, and as an honest man I must do my duty.
I don't intend to mintion a syllable of what you said this day; but as
his sarvint, and gettin' bread through him, and undher him, I can't, nor
I won't, suffer his honor to be backbitten before his own face--for it's
next to that. Now,' says I, 'be guided by me, and all will be right. In
the first place, you know, he's entitled to _duty-fowl_*--in the next
place, he's entitled to _duty-work_.' 'Ay, the landlord is,' said they,
'but not the Vul----' 'Whisht,' says I, in a friendly whisper, puttin'
my hand across Dan's mouth, an' winkin' both my eyes at him; 'send his
honor down a pair of them fine fat turkeys--I know his honor's fond
o' them; but that's not all,' says I--'do you wish to have a friend in
coort? I know you do. Well and good--he's drawing gravel to make a new
avenue early next week, so, Sheemus O'Shaughran, if you wish to have
two friends in coort--a great one and a little one'--manin' myself, God
pardon me, for the little one, your honor--'you will,' says I 'early on
next Monday mornin', send down a pair of horses and carts, and give him
a week's duty work. Then,' says I, 'lave the rest to _somebody_, for I
won't name names.'--No, your honor, I did'nt bring Hanlon in.--By the
same token, as a proof of it, there's young Bandy Shaughran, the son,
wid a turkey under aich arm, comin'up to the hall door."

* These were iniquitous exactions, racked from the poor
tenantry by the old landlords or their agents.

"Well," proceeded M'Clutchy, without a single observation, "did you call
on the Slevins?"

"Yes, sir; they're ready."

"The Magonnels?"

"Not ready, sir; but a pair of geese, and two men on next Thursday and
Saturday. On Friday they must go to market to buy two _slips_." (* young
pigs).

"Widow Gaffney?"

"Not ready, sir; but that I may never die in sin, a 'cute shaver."

"Why so--what did she say?"

"Oh, Mr. Hickman, sir, the head agent, your honor; that's the go.
Throth, the same Mr. Hickman is--but, God forbid, si