第34章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"The Romany Ryel",免费读到尾

  InthispartofhishistoryIinterruptedMurtagh,sayingthatIwasafraidhewastellinguntruths,andthatitwashighlyimprobablethatthePopewouldleavetheVaticantoplaycardswithIrishattheirreligioushouse,andthatI

  wassure,ifonhis,Murtagh’sauthority,Iweretotelltheworldso,theworldwouldneverbelieveit。

  \"Thentheworld,Shorsha,wouldbeafool,evenasyouwerejustnowsayingyouhadfrequentlybelievedittobe;thegrandthing,Shorsha,istobeabletobelieveoneself;ifyecandothat,itmattersverylittlewhethertheworldbelieveyeorno。ButapurtythingforyouandtheworldtostickleatthePope’splayingatcardsatareligioushouseofIrish;

  och!ifIweretotellyouandtheworld,whatthePopehasbeensometimesat,atthereligioushouseofEnglishthaives,Iwouldexcuseyouandtheworldforturningupyoureyes。

  However,IwishtosaynothingagainstthePope。Iamasonofthechurch,andifthePopedon’tinterferewithmycards,divilabitwillIhavetosayagainsthim;butIsawthePopeplaying,orabouttoplay,withthepackwhichhadbeentakenfromme,andwhenItoldthePope,thePopedidnot—

  Yehadbetterletmegoonwithmyhistory,Shorsha;whetheryouortheworldbelieveitornot,Iamsureitisquiteastrueasyourtaleofthesnake,orsayingthatFinngothisburntfingerfromthethaivesofLoughlin;andwhateveryoumaysay,Iamsuretheworldwillthinksotoo。\"

  IapologizedtoMurtaghforinterruptinghim,andtellinghimthathishistory,whethertrueornot,wasinfinitelydiverting,beggedhimtocontinueit。

  CHAPTERXLVI

  Murtagh’sStorycontinued—ThePriest,Exorcist,andThimble—engro—HowtoCheckaRebellion。

  IWAStellingye,Shorsha,whenyeinterruptedme,thatI

  foundthePope,therector,thesub—rector,andthealmonerseatedatthetable,therectorwithmypackofcardsinhishands,abouttodealouttothePopeandtherest,notforgettinghimself,forwhomheintendedallthetrump—cards,nodoubt。Nosoonerdidtheyperceivemethantheyseemedtakenallaback;buttherector,suddenlystartingupwiththecardsinhishand,askedmewhatIdidthere,threateningtohavemewelldisciplinedifIdidnotgoaboutmybusiness;’Iamcomeformypack,’saidI,’yeouldthaif,andtotellhisHolinesshowIhavebeentreatedbyye;’thengoingdownonmykneesbeforehisHoliness,Isaid,’Arrah,now,yourHoliness!willyenotseejusticedonetoapoorboywhohasbeensadlymisused?Thepackofcardswhichthatoldruffianhasinhishandaremycards,whichhehastakenfromme,inordertochatewith。Arrah!don’tplaywithhim,yourHoliness,forhe’llonlychateye—therearedirtymarksuponthecardswhichbearthetrumps,putthereinordertoknowthemby;andtheouldthaifindalingoutwillgivehimselfallthegoodcards,andchateyeofthelastfarthinginyourpocket;soletthembetakenfromhim,yourHoliness,andgivenbacktome;andorderhimtolavetheroom,andthen,ifyourHolinessbeforanhonestgame,don’tthinkIamtheboytobaulkye。I’lltaketheoldruffian’splace,andplaywithyetillevening,andallnightbesides,anddivilanadvantagewillItakeofthedirtymarks,thoughIknowthemall,havingplacedthemonthecardsmyself。’I

  wasgoingoninthiswaywhentheouldthaifofarector,flingingdownthecards,madeatmeasiftokickmeoutoftheroom,whereuponIstartedupandsaid,’Ifyeareforkicking,suretwocanplayatthat;’andthenIkickedathisreverence,andhisreverenceatme,andtherewasaregularscrimmagebetweenus,whichfrightenedthePope,who,gettingup,saidsomewordswhichIdidnotunderstand,butwhichthecookafterwardstoldmewere,’Englishextravagance,andthisisthesecondedition;’foritseemsthat,alittletimebefore,hisHolinesshadbeenfrightenedinSt。Peter’sChurchbytheservantofanEnglishfamily,whichthosethaivesoftheEnglishreligioushousehadbeenendeavouringtobringovertotheCatholicfaith,andwhodidn’tapproveoftheirbeingconverted。Och!hisHolinessdidusallsoreinjusticetocallusEnglish,andtoconfoundourhousewiththeother;forhoweverdirtyourhousemightbe,ourhousewasaclanehousecomparedwiththeEnglishhouse,andwehonestpeoplecomparedwiththoseEnglishthaives。Well,hisHolinesswasfrighted,andthealmonerranout,andbroughtinhisHoliness’sattendants,andtheylaidholdofme,butI

  struggledhard,andsaid,’Iwillnotgowithoutmypack;

  arrah,yourHoliness!makethemgivememypack,whichShorshagavemeinDungarvontimesofold;’butmystruggleswereofnouse。Iwaspulledawayandputoutintheoulddungeon,andhisHolinesswentawaysorefrighted,crossinghimselfmuch,andneverreturnedagain。

  \"IntheolddungeonIwasfastenedtothewallbyachain,andthereIwasdisciplinedonceeveryotherdayforthefirstthreeweeks,andthenIwaslefttomyself,andmychain,andhunger;andthereIsatinthedungeon,sometimesscreeching,sometimeshallooing,forIsoonbecamefrighted,havingnothinginthecelltodivertme。Atlastthecookfoundhiswaytomebystealth,andcomfortedmealittle,bringingmetidbitsoutofthekitchen;andhevisitedmeagainandagain—notoften,however,forhedareonlycomewhenhecouldstealawaythekeyfromthecustodyofthethaifofaporter。Iwasthreeyearsinthedungeon,andshouldhavegonemadbutforthecook,andhiswordsofcomfort,andhistidbits,andnicebookswhichhebroughtmeoutofthelibrary,whichwerethe’CalendarsofNewgate,’

  andthe’LivesofIrishRoguesandRaparees,’theonlyEnglishbooksinthelibrary。However,attheendofthreeyears,theouldthaifofarector,wishingtolookatthembooks,missedthemfromthelibrary,andmadeaperquisitionaboutthem,andthethaifofaportersaidthatheshouldn’twonderifIhadthem;sayingthathehadonceseenmereading;andthentherectorcamewithotherstomycell,andtookmybooksfromme,fromundermystraw,andaskedmehowIcamebythem;andonmyrefusaltotell,theydisciplinedmeagaintillthebloodrandownmyback;andmakingmoreperquisitiontheyatlastaccusedthecookofhavingcarriedthebookstome,andnotdenying,hewasgivenwarningtoleavenextday,butheleftthatnight,andtookmeawaywithhim;forhestolethekey,andcametomeandcutmychainthrough,andthenheandIescapedfromthereligioushousethroughawindow—thecookwithabundle,containingwhatthingshehad。Nosoonerhadwegotoutthanthehonestcookgavemealittlebitofmoneyandaloaf,andtoldmetofollowawaywhichhepointedout,whichhesaidwouldleadtothesea;andthen,havingembracedmeaftertheItalianway,heleftme,andIneversawhimagain。SoIfollowedthewaywhichthecookpointedout,andintwodaysreachedaseaportcalledChiviterVik,terriblyfoot—foundered,andthereImetasailorwhospokeIrish,andwhobelongedtoavesseljustreadytosailforFrance;andthesailortookmeonboardhisvessel,andsaidIwashisbrother,andthecaptaingavemeapassagetoaplaceinFrancecalledMarseilles;andwhenIgotthere,thecaptainandsailorgotalittlemoneyformeandapassport,andItravelledacrossthecountrytowardsaplacetheydirectedmetocalledBayonne,fromwhichtheysaidImight,perhaps,gettoIreland。Coming,however,toaplacecalledPau,allmymoneybeinggone,IenlistedintoaregimentcalledtheArmyoftheFaith,whichwasgoingintoSpain,fortheKingofSpainhadbeendethronedandimprisonedbyhisownsubjects,asperhapsyoumayhaveheard;andtheKingofFrance,whowashiscousin,wassendinganarmytohelphim,underthecommandofhisownson,whomtheEnglishcalledPrinceHilt,becausewhenhewastoldthathewasappointedtothecommand,heclappedhishandonthehiltofhissword。SoI

  enlistedintotheregimentoftheFaith,whichwasmadeupofSpaniards,manyofthempriestswhohadrunoutofSpain,andbrokenGermans,andfoot—founderedIrish,likemyself。Itwassaidtobeablackguardregiment,thatsameregimentoftheFaith;but,’faith,Isawnothingblackguardlygoingoninit,foryouwouldhardlyreckoncard—playinganddominoes,andpitchandtossblackguardly,andIsawnothingelseinit。TherewasonethinginitwhichIdisliked—thepriestsdrawingtheirSpanishknivesoccasionally,whentheylosttheirmoney。AfterwehadbeensometimeatPau,thearmyoftheFaithwassentacrossthemountainsintoSpain,asthevanguardoftheFrench;andnosoonerdidtheSpaniardsseetheFaiththantheymadeadashatit,andtheFaithranaway,myselfalongwithit,andgotbehindtheFrencharmy,whichtoldittokeepthere,andtheFaithdidso,andfollowedtheFrencharmy,whichsoonscatteredtheSpaniards,andintheendplacedthekingonhisthroneagain。WhenthewarwasovertheFaithwasdisbanded;someoftheforeigners,however,amongstwhomIwasone,wereputintoaGuardregiment,andthereIcontinuedformorethanayear。

  \"Oneday,beingataplacecalledtheEscurial,Itookstock,asthetradesmensay,andfoundIpossessedthesumofeightydollarswonbyplayingatcards,forthoughIcouldnotplaysowellwiththeforeigncardsaswiththepackyougaveme,Shorsha,IhadyetcontrivedtowinmoneyfromthepriestsandsoldiersoftheFaith。Findingmyselfpossessedofsuchacapital,Ideterminedtoleavetheservice,andtomakethebestofmywaytoIreland;soIdeserted,butcominginanevilhourtoaplacetheycallsTorreLodones,Ifoundthepriestplayingatcardswithhisparishioners。Thesightofthecardsmademestop,andthen,foollike,notwithstandingthetreasureIhadaboutme,Imustwishtoplay,sonotbeingabletospeaktheirlanguage,Imadesignstothemtoletmeplay,andthepriestandhisthaivesconsentedwillingly;soIsatdowntocardswiththepriestandtwoofhisparishioners,andinalittletimehadwonplentyoftheirmoney,butIhadbetterneverhavedoneanysuchthing,forsuddenlythepriestandallhisparishionerssetuponmeandbateme,andtookfrommeallIhad,andcastmeoutofthevillagemoredeadthanalive。Och!it’sabadvillagethat,andifIhadknownwhatitwasIwouldhaveavoidedit,orrunstraightthroughit,thoughIsawallthecard—playingintheworldgoingoninit。Thereisaproverbaboutit,asIwasafterwardstold,oldasthetimeoftheMoors,whichholdsgoodtothepresentday—itis,thatinTorreLodonestherearetwenty—fourhousekeepers,andtwenty—fivethieves,maningthatallthepeoplearethaives,andtheclergymantoboot,whoisnotreckonedahousekeeper;andtrothIfoundtheclergymanthegreatestthaifofthelot。AfterbeingcastoutofthatvillageItravelledfornearlyamonth,subsistingbybeggingtolerablywell,forthoughmostoftheSpanisharethaives,theyarerathercharitable;butthoughcharitablethaivestheydonotliketheirownbeingtakenfromthemwithoutleavebeingasked,asIfoundtomycost;

  foronmyenteringagardennearSeville,withoutleave,totakeanorange,thelabourercamerunningupandstruckmetothegroundwithahatchet,givingmeabigwoundinthearm。

  Ifaintedwithlossofblood,andonrevivingIfoundmyselfinahospitalatSeville,towhichthelabourerandthepeopleofthevillagehadtakenme。IshouldhavediedofstarvationinthathospitalhadnotsomeEnglishpeopleheardofmeandcometoseeme;theytendedmewithfoodtillIwascured,andthenpaidmypassageonboardashiptoLondon,towhichplacetheshipcarriedme。

  \"AndnowIwasinLondonwithfiveshillingsinmypocket—

  allIhadintheworld—andthatdidnotlastforlong;andwhenitwasgoneIbeggedinthestreets,butIdidnotgetmuchbythat,exceptamonth’shardlabourinthecorrection—

  house;andwhenIcameoutIknewnotwhattodo,butthoughtIwouldtakeawalkinthecountry,foritwasspring—time,andtheweatherwasfine,soItookawalkaboutsevenmilesfromLondon,andcametoaplacewhereagreatfairwasbeingheld;andthereIbegged,butgotnothingbutahalfpenny,andwasthinkingofgoingfarther,whenIsawamanwithatable,likethatofmine,playingwiththimbles,asyousawme。Ilookedattheplay,andsawhimwinmoney,andrunaway,andhuntedbyconstablesmorethanonce。Ikeptfollowingtheman,andatlastenteredintoconversationwithhim;andlearningfromhimthathewasinwantofacompaniontohelphim,Iofferedtohelphimifhewouldpayme;helookedatmefromtoptotoe,anddidnotwishatfirsttohaveanythingtodowithme,ashesaidmyappearancewasagainstme。’Faith,Shorsha,hehadbetterhavelookedathome,forhisappearancewasnotmuchinhisfavour:helookedverymuchlikeaJew,Shorsha。However,heatlastagreedtotakemetobehiscompanion,orbonnetashecalledit;andIwastokeepalook—out,andlethimknowwhenconstableswerecoming,andtospakeagoodwordforhimoccasionally,whilsthewaschatingfolkswithhisthimblesandhispea。SoIbecamehisbonnet,andassistedhiminthefair,andinmanyotherfairsbeside;butIdidnotlikemyoccupationmuch,orrathermymaster,who,thoughnotabigman,wasabigthaif,andanunkindone,fordoallIcouldI

  couldnevergivehimpleasure;andhewascontinuallycallingmefoolandbogtrotter,andtwittingmebecauseIcouldnotlearnhisthaives’Latin,anddiscoursewithhiminit,andcomparingmewithanotheracquaintance,orbitofapalofhis,whomhesaidhehadpartedwithinthefair,andofwhomhewasfondofsayingallkindsofwonderfulthings,amongstothers,thatheknewthegrammarofalltongues。Atlast,weariedwithbeingtwittedbyhimwithnotbeingabletolearnhisthaives’Greek,IproposedthatIshouldteachhimIrish,thatweshouldspakeittogetherwhenwehadanythingtosayinsecret。Tothatheconsentedwillingly;but,och!

  apurtyhandhemadewithIrish,’faith,notmuchbetterthanIdidwithhisthaives’Hebrew。Thenmyturncame,andI

  twittedhimnicelywithdulness,andcomparedhimwithapalthatIhadinouldIreland,inDungarvontimesofyore,towhomIteachedIrish,tellinghimthathewasthebrothofaboy,andnotonlyknewthegrammarofallhumantongues,butthedialectsofthesnakesbesides;infact,Itouldhimallaboutyourownsweetself,Shorsha,andmanyadisputeandquarrelhadwetogetheraboutourpals,whichwasthecleverestfellow,hisormine。

  \"Well,afterhavingbeenwidhimabouttwomonths,Iquittedhimwithoutnoise,takingawayoneofhistables,andsomepeasandthimbles;andthatIdidwithasafeconscience,forhepaidmenothing,andwasnotoverfreewiththemeatandthedrink,thoughImustsayofhimthathewasacleverfellow,andperfectmasterofhistrade,bywhichhemadeapowerofmoney,andbatinghisnotbeingabletolearnIrish,andacertainJewishlispwhichhehad,agreatmasterofhistongue,ofwhichhewasveryproud;somuchso,thatheoncetoldmethatwhenhehadsavedacertainsumofmoneyhemeanttoleaveoffthethimblingbusiness,andenterParliament;intowhich,hesaid,hecouldgetatanytime,throughtheinterestofafriendofhis,aToryPeer—myLordWhitefeather,withwhom,hesaid,hehadoccasionallydonebusiness。Withthetable,andotherthingswhichIhadtaken,Icommencedtradeonmyownaccount,havingcontrivedtolearnafewofhistricks。Myonlycapitalwasthechangeforhalf—a—guinea,whichhehadonceletfall,andwhichI

  pickedup,whichwasallIcouldevergetfromhim:foritwasimpossibletostaleanymoneyfromhim,hewassoawake,beinguptoallthetricksofthaives,havingfollowedthedivingtrade,ashecalledit,foraconsiderabletime。MywishwastomakeenoughbymytabletoenablemetoreturnwithcredittoouldIreland,whereIhadnodoubtofbeingabletogetmyselfordainedaspriest;and,introth,notwithstandingIwasabeginner,andwithoutanycompaniontohelpme,Ididtolerablywell,gettingmymeatanddrink,andincreasingmysmallcapital,tillIcametothisunluckyplaceofHorncastle,whereIwasutterlyruinedbythethaifintherider’sdress。Andnow,Shorsha,Iamaftertellingyoumyhistory;perhapsyouwillnowbetellingmesomethingaboutyourself?\"

  ItoldMurtaghallaboutmyselfthatIdeemednecessarytorelate,andthenaskedhimwhatheintendedtodo;herepeatedthathewasutterlyruined,andthathehadnoprospectbeforehimbutstarving,ormakingawaywithhimself。Iinquired\"HowmuchwouldtakehimtoIreland,andestablishhimtherewithcredit。\"\"Fivepounds,\"heanswered,adding,\"butwhointheworldwouldbefoolenoughtotendmefivepounds,unlessitbeyourself,Shorsha,who,maybe,havenotgotit;forwhenyoutoldmeaboutyourself,youmadenoboastofthestateofyouraffairs。\"\"Iamnotveryrich,\"Ireplied,\"butIthinkIcanaccommodateyouwithwhatyouwant。Iconsidermyselfundergreatobligationstoyou,Murtagh;itwasyouwhoinstructedmeinthelanguageofOileinnanNaomha,whichhasbeenthefoundationofallmyacquisitionsinphilology;withoutyou,IshouldnothavebeenwhatIam—Lavengro!whichsignifiesaphilologist。Hereisthemoney,Murtagh,\"saidI,puttingmyhandintomypocket,andtakingoutfivepounds,\"muchgoodmayitdoyou。\"Hetookthemoney,staredatit,andthenatme—\"Andyoumanetogivemethis,Shorsha?\"\"Itisnolongerminetogive,\"saidI;\"itisyours。\"\"Andyougiveitmeforthegratitudeyoubearme?\"\"Yes,\"saidI,\"andforDungarvontimesofold。\"\"Well,Shorsha,\"saidhe,\"youareabrothofaboy,andI’lltakeyourbenefaction—

  fivepounds!och,Jasus!\"Hethenputthemoneyinhispocket,andspringingup,wavedhishatthreetimes,utteringsomeoldIrishcry;then,sittingdown,hetookmyhand,andsaid,\"Sure,Shorsha,I’llbegoingthither;andwhenIgetthere,itisturningoveranotherleafIwillbe;Ihavelearntathingortwoabroad;Iwillbecomeapriest;that’sthetrade,Shorsha!andIwillcryoutforrepale;that’sthecry,Shorsha!andI’llbeafoolnolonger。\"\"Andwhatwillyoudowithyourtable?\"saidI。\"’Faith,I’llbetakingitwithme,Shorsha;andwhenIgetstoIreland,I’llgetitmended,andIwillkeepitinthehousewhichIshallhave;

  andwhenIlooksuponit,IwillbethinkingofallIhaveundergone。\"\"Youhadbetterleaveitbehindyou,\"saidI;

  \"ifyoutakeitwithyou,youwill,perhaps,takeupthethimbletradeagainbeforeyougettoIreland,andlosethemoneyIamaftergivingyou。\"\"Nofearofthat,Shorsha;

  neverwillIplayonthattableagain,Shorsha,tillIgetitmended,whichshallnotbetillIamapriest,andhaveahouseinwhichtoplaceit。\"

  MurtaghandIthenwentintothetown,wherewehadsomerefreshmenttogether,andthenpartedonourseveralways。I

  heardnothingofhimfornearlyaquarterofacentury,whenapersonwhoknewhimwell,comingfromIreland,andstayingatmyhumblehouse,toldmeagreatdealabouthim。HereachedIrelandinsafety,soonreconciledhimselfwithhisChurch,andwasordainedapriest;inthepriestlyofficeheacquittedhimselfinawayverysatisfactory,uponthewhole,tohissuperiors,having,ashefrequentlysaid,learnedwisdomabroad。ThePopishChurchneverfailstoturntoaccountanyparticulargiftwhichitsservantsmaypossess;

  anddiscoveringsoonthatMurtaghwasendowedwithconsiderablemanualdexterity—proofofwhichhefrequentlygaveatcards,andatasingulargamewhichheoccasionallyplayedatthimbles—itselectedhimasaveryfitpersontoplaythepartofexorcist;andaccordinglyhetravelledthroughagreatpartofIreland,castingoutdevilsfrompeoplepossessed,whichheafterwardsexhibited,sometimesintheshapeofrabbits,andoccasionallybirdsandfishes。

  ThereisaholyislandinalakeinIreland,towhichthepeopleresortataparticularseasonoftheyear。HereMurtaghfrequentlyattended,anditwasherethatheperformedacurewhichwillcausehisnamelongtoberememberedinIreland,deliveringapossessedwomanoftwodemons,whichhebrandishedaloftinhishands,intheshapeoftwolargeeels,andsubsequentlyhurledintothelake,amidsttheshoutsofanenthusiasticmultitude。Besidesplayingthepartofanexorcist,heactedthatofapoliticianwithconsiderablesuccess;heattachedhimselftothepartyofthesireofagitation—\"themanofpaunch,\"andpreachedandhallooedforrepealwiththeloudestandbest,aslongasrepealwasthecry;assoon,however,astheWhigsattainedthehelmofGovernment,andthegreaterpartoftheloavesandfishes—morepolitelytermedthepatronageofIreland—wasplacedatthedispositionofthepriesthood,thetoneofMurtagh,likethatoftherestofhisbrothersaggarts,wasconsiderablysoftened;heevenwentsofarastodeclarethatpoliticswerenotaltogetherconsistentwithsacerdotalduty;andresuminghisexorcisms,whichhehadforsometimeabandoned,hewenttotheIsleofHoliness,anddeliveredapossessedwomanofsixdemonsintheshapeofwhitemice。He,however,againresumedthepoliticalmantleintheyear1848,duringtheshortperiodoftherebellionoftheso—calledYoungIrelanders。Thepriests,thoughtheyapparentlysidedwiththisparty,didnotapproveofit,asitwaschieflyformedofardentyoungmen,fondofwhattheytermedliberty,andbynomeansadmirersofpriestlydomination,beingmostlyProtestants。Justbeforetheoutbreakofthisrebellion,itwasdeterminedbetweenthepriestsandthe—,thatthispartyshouldberenderedcomparativelyinnocuousbybeingdeprivedofthesinews’ofwar—inotherwords,certainsumsofmoneywhichtheyhadraisedfortheirenterprise。MurtaghwasdeemedthebestqualifiedpersoninIrelandtobeentrustedwiththedelicateofficeofgettingtheirmoneyfromthem。Havingreceivedhisinstructions,heinvitedtheleaderstohisparsonageamongstthemountains,underpretenceofdeliberatingwiththemaboutwhatwastobedone。Theyarrivedtherejustbeforenightfall,dressedinred,yellow,andgreen,thecolourssodeartoenthusiasticIrishmen;Murtaghreceivedthemwithgreatapparentcordiality,andenteredintoalongdiscoursewiththem,promisingthemtheassistanceofhimselfandorder,andreceivedfromthemaprofusionofthanks。AfteratimeMurtagh,observing,inajoculartone,thatconsultingwasdullwork,proposedagameofcards,andtheleaders,thoughsomewhatsurprised,assenting,hewenttoacloset,andtakingoutapackofcards,laidituponthetable;itwasastrangedirtypack,andexhibitedeverymarkofhavingseenverylongservice。Ononeofitsguestsmakingsomeremarksonthe\"ancientness\"ofitsappearance,Murtaghobservedthattherewasaverywonderfulhistoryattachedtothatpack;ithadbeenpresentedtohim,hesaid,byayounggentleman,adiscipleofhis,towhom,inDungarvontimesofyore,hehadtaughttheIrishlanguage,andofwhomherelatedsomeveryextraordinarythings;headdedthathe,Murtagh,hadtakenitto—,whereithadoncethehappinessofbeinginthehandsoftheHolyFather;byagreatmisfortune,hedidnotsaywhat,hehadlostpossessionofit,andhadreturnedwithoutit,buthadsometimesincerecoveredit;anephewofhis,whowasbeingeducatedat—

  forapriest,havingfounditinanookofthecollege,andsentittohim。

  Murtaghandtheleadersthenplayedvariousgameswiththispack,moreespeciallyonecalledbytheinitiated\"blindhockey,\"theresultbeingthatattheendofabouttwohourstheleadersfoundtheyhadlostone—halfoftheirfunds;theynowlookedserious,andtalkedofleavingthehouse,butMurtaghbeggingthemtostaytosupper,theyconsented。

  Aftersupper,atwhichtheguestsdrankratherfreely,Murtaghsaidthat,ashehadnottheleastwishtowintheirmoney,heintendedtogivethemtheirrevenge;hewouldnotplayatcardswiththem,headded,butatafunnygameofthimbles,atwhichtheywouldbesureofwinningbacktheirown;thengoingout,hebroughtinatable,tallandnarrow,onwhichplacingcertainthimblesandapea,heproposedthattheyshouldstakewhatevertheypleasedonthealmostcertaintyoffindingthepeaunderthethimbles。Theleaders,aftersomehesitation,consented,andwereatfirsteminentlysuccessful,winningbackthegreaterpartofwhattheyhadlost;aftersometime,however,Fortune,orratherMurtagh,turnedagainstthem,andthen,insteadofleavingoff,theydoubledandtrebledtheirstakes,andcontinueddoingsountiltheyhadlostnearlythewholeoftheirfunds。

  Quitefurious,theynowsworethatMurtaghhadcheatedthem,andinsistedonhavingtheirpropertyrestoredtothem。

  Murtagh,withoutawordofreply,wenttothedoor,andshoutingintothepassagesomethinginIrish,theroomwasinstantlyfilledwithbogtrotters,eachatleastsixfeethigh,withastoutshillelahinhishand。Murtaghthenturningtohisguests,askedthemwhattheymeantbyinsultingananointedpriest;tellingthemthatitwasnotforthelikesofthemtoavengethewrongsofIreland。\"I

  havebeenclanemistakeninthewholeofye,\"saidhe,\"I

  supposedyeIrish,buthavefound,tomysorrow,thatyearenothingofthekind;purtyfellowstopretendtobeIrish,whenthereisnotawordofIrishonthetongueofanyofye,divilaha’porth;theilligantyounggentlemantowhomI

  taughtIrish,inDungarvontimesofold,thoughnotborninIreland,hasmoreIrishinhimthananytenofye。HeistheboytoavengethewrongsofIreland,ifeverforeigneristodoit。\"Thensayingsomethingtothebogtrotters,theyinstantlyclearedtheroomoftheyoungIrelanders,whoretiredsadlydisconcerted;nevertheless,beingverysillyyoungfellows,theyhoistedthestandardofrebellion;few,however,joiningthem,partlybecausetheyhadnomoney,andpartlybecausethepriestsabusedthemwithmightandmain,theirrebellionendedinalamentablemanner;themselvesbeingseizedandtried,andthoughconvicted,notdeemedofsufficientimportancetobesenttothescaffold,wheretheymighthavehadthesatisfactionofsaying—

  \"Dulceetdecorumestpropatriamori。\"

  Myvisitor,aftersayingthatofthemoneywon,Murtaghretainedaconsiderableportion,thatapartwenttothehierarchyforwhatwerecalledchurchpurposes,andthatthe—tooktheremainder,whichitemployedinestablishinganewspaper,inwhichtheprivatecharactersoftheworthiestandmostloyalProtestantsinIrelandweretraducedandvilified,concludedhisaccountbyobserving,thatitwasthecommonbeliefthatMurtagh,havingbyhisservices,ecclesiasticalandpolitical,acquiredtheconfidenceofthepriesthoodandfavouroftheGovernment,would,onthefirstvacancy,beappointedtothehighofficeofPopishPrimateofIreland。

  CHAPTERXLVII

  DeparturefromHorncastle—RecruitingSergeant—KauloesandLolloes。

  LEAVINGHorncastleIbentmystepsinthedirectionoftheeast。Iwalkedatabriskrate,andlateintheeveningreachedalargetown,situateattheentranceofanextensivefirth,orarmofthesea,whichpreventedmyfartherprogresseastward。Sleepingthatnightinthesuburbsofthetown,I

  departedearlynextmorninginthedirectionofthesouth。A

  walkofabouttwentymilesbroughtmetoanotherlargetown,situatedonariver,whereIagainturnedtowardstheeast。

  AttheendofthetownIwasaccostedbyafiery—facedindividual,somewhatunderthemiddlesize,dressedasarecruitingsergeant。

  \"Youngman,\"saidtherecruitingsergeant,\"youarejustthekindofpersontoservetheHonourableEastIndiaCompany。\"

  \"IhadrathertheHonourableCompanyshouldserveme,\"saidI。

  \"Ofcourse,youngman。Well,theHonourableEastIndiaCompanyshallserveyou—that’sreasonable。Here,takethisshilling;’tisservice—money。TheHonourableCompanyengagestoserveyou,andyoutheHonourableCompany;bothpartiesshallbethusserved;that’sjustandreasonable。\"

  \"AndwhatmustIdofortheCompany?\"

  \"OnlygotoIndia;that’sall。\"

  \"AndwhatshouldIdoinIndia?\"

  \"Fight,mybraveboy!fight,myyouthfulhero!\"

  \"WhatkindofcountryisIndia?\"

  \"Thefinestcountryintheworld!Rivers,biggerthantheOuse。Hills,higherthananythingnearSpalding!Trees—

  youneversawsuchtrees!Fruits—youneversawsuchfruits!\"

  \"Andthepeople—whatkindoffolkarethey?\"

  \"Pah!Kauloes—blacks—asetofrascalsnotworthregarding。\"

  \"Kauloes!\"saidI;\"blacks!\"

  \"Yes,\"saidtherecruitingsergeant;\"andtheycalluslolloes,which,intheirbeastlygibberish,meansred。\"

  \"Lolloes!\"saidI;\"reds!\"

  \"Yes,\"saidtherecruitingsergeant,\"kauloesandlolloes;

  andallthelolloeshavetodoistokickandcutdownthekauloes,andtakefromthemtheirrupees,whichmeansilvermoney。Whydoyoustareso?\"

  \"Why,\"saidI,\"thisistheverylanguageofMr。Petulengro。\"

  \"Mr。Pet—?\"

  \"Yes,\"saidI,\"andTawnoChikno。\"

  \"TawnoChik—?Isay,youngfellow,Idon’tlikeyourwayofspeaking;no,noryourwayoflooking。Youaremad,sir;youaremad;andwhat’sthis?Why,yourhairisgrey!Youwon’tdofortheHonourableCompany—theylikered。I’mgladI

  didn’tgiveyoutheshilling。Gooddaytoyou。\"

  \"Ishouldn’twonder,\"saidI,asIproceededrapidlyalongabroadcauseway,inthedirectionoftheeast,\"ifMr。

  PetulengroandTawnoChiknocameoriginallyfromIndia。I

  thinkI’llgothere。\"

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