ing
with scorn and indignation; but as he stood erect he put his hand to
his side and gave a howl as he limped a step or two over the floor.

"The black-hearted villain," he muttered through his teeth. "I'll have
his life."

"You'll have nothing of the sort," said I, "and we'll get some good
attendance out of him, for he's a skillful man. When he has done his
duty in repairing what he has inflicted upon you, then you can give
him a piece of your mind."

"I'll give him a piece of my boot; all that's left of it," growled Jem
Bottles, scowling.

"You may take your will of him after he has put some embrocation on
your bruises," said I; and as I was speaking there came a timorous
little knock at the door.

"Come in," I cried, and after some hesitation the door opened, and
there stood little Doctor Chord with a big bottle under his arm. I was
glad there was no supper yet on the table, for if there had been I
must have asked the little man to sit down with me, and that he would
do without a second's hesitation, so I could not rightly see him
maltreated who had broken a crust with me.

He paid no attention to Jem or Paddy at first, but kept his cunning
little eye on me.

"And where have you been to-day, O'Ruddy?" he asked.

"Oh," said I, "I accompanied these two to the door in the wall, and
when they got through I heard yells fit to make a hero out of a
nigger; but you know how stout the bolts are and I couldn't get to
them, so I had just to go out of hearing of their bellowings. On the
way back I happened to meet an old friend of mine, Father Donovan,
and--"

Here Paddy, forgetting his good manners, shouted out:

"Thank God there's a holy father in this hole of perdition; for I know
I'm goin' t' die to-morrow at the latest."

"Stop your nonsense," said I. "You'll have to hold on to life at least
a day longer; for the good father is not coming here until two days
are past. You're more frightened than hurt, and the Doctor here has a
lotion that will make you meet the priest as a friend and not as a
last counsellor."

"As I was saying, Doctor Chord, I met Father Donovan, and we strolled
about the town, so that I have only now just come in. The father is a
stranger in London, on a pilgrimage to Rome. And sure I had to show
him the sights."

"It was a kindly action of you," said Doctor Chord, pulling the cork
of the medicine-bottle. "Get those rags off," he called to Paddy,
"and I'll rub you down as if you were t