And yet, strange as it may seem, he, too, was a correct type of his order; the only difference being, that Father Malachi was an older coinage, with the impress of Donay or St.
Omers, whereas Mister Donovan was the shining metal, fresh stamped from the mint of Maynooth.
While thus occupied in my surveillance of the scene before me, I was roused by the priest saying-- "Ah, Fin, my darling, you needn't deny it; you're at the old game as sure as my name is Malachi, and ye'll never be easy nor quiet till ye're sent beyond the sea, or maybe have a record of your virtues on half a ton of marble in the church--yard, yonder." "Upon my honour, upon the sacred honour of a De Courcy--." "Well, well, never mind it now; ye see ye're just keeping your friends cooling themselves there in the corner--introduce me at once." "Mr.Lorrequer, I'm sure--." "My name is Curzon," said the adjutant, bowing.
"A mighty pretty name, though a little profane; well, Mr.Curse-on," for so he pronounced it, "ye're as welcome as the flowers in May; and it's mighty proud I am to see ye here.
"Mr.Lorrequer, allow me to shake your hand--I've heard of ye before." There seemed nothing very strange in that; for go where I would through this country, I seemed as generally known as ever was Brummell in Bond-street.
"Fin tells me," continued Father Malachi, "that ye'd rather not be known down here, in regard of a reason," and here he winked.

"Make yourselves quite easy; the king's writ was never but once in these parts; and the 'original and true copy' went back to Limerick in the stomach of the server; they made him eat it, Mr.Lorrequer; but it's as well to be cautious, for there are a good number here.

A little dinner, a little quarterly dinner we have among us, Mr.Curseon, to be social together, and raise a 'thrifle' for the Irish college at Rome, where we have a probationer or two, ourselves.
"As good as a station, and more drink," whispered Fin into my ear.

"And now," continued the priest, "ye must just permit me to re-christen ye both, and the contribution will not be the less for what I'm going to do; and I'm certain you'll not be worse for the change Mr.Curseon--though 'tis only for a few hours, ye'll have a dacent name." As I could see no possible objection to this proposal, nor did Curzon either, our only desire being to maintain the secrecy necessary for our antagonist's safety, we at once assented; when Father Malachi took me by the hand, but with such a total change in his whole air and deportment that I was completely puzzled by it; he led me forward to the company with a good deal of the ceremonious reverence I have often admired in Sir Charles Vernon, when conducting some full--blown dowager through the mazes of a castle minuet.

The desire to laugh outright was almost irresistible, as the Rev.Father stood at arm's length from me, still holding my hand, and bowing to the company pretty much in the style of a manager introducing a blushing debutante to an audience.