46 GARRYOWEN 



when he was diggin' in his pitata garden and the 

 pleeceman came to arrist him. I'm disremem- 

 brin' what it was he'd done — chickens I think it was 

 he'd stole — but the pleeceman says to him, ' Come 

 off wid you to gaol,' says he. ' It's sorry I am to 

 have to take you,' says he, ' but it's me painful 

 duty.' ' The more's the pity it gives you such 

 pain,' says Con; ' and where does it hurt you most, 

 may I ax? ' ' In me feehn's,' replies him. ' Faith, 

 I'll aise you,' says Con, and wid that he knocks 

 him sinsless with the flat of the spade." 



" That was one way of relieving him of his pain- 

 ful duty." 



" Yes, miss," said Moriarty, and they drove on 

 in silence for awhile. Miss Grimshaw trying to 

 imagine how the case of Con Meehan bore ex- 

 tenuation to the case of the bailiff and failing. 



A long hill brought them to a walk, and Moriarty 

 got down and walked beside the mare to " aise " 

 her. 



HaK-way up the hill a man tramping on ahead 

 hatted, turned, and stood waiting for them to 

 come up. He had a fishing-rod under his arm, 

 and Miss Grimshaw, wondering what new surprise 

 was in store for her, found it in the voice of the 

 stranger, which was cultivated. 



" Can you tell me where I am? " asked the 

 stranger. 



" Yes, sorr," said Moriarty, halting the mare. 

 *' You're eleven miles and a bit from Cloyne, if 

 you're going that way." 



