Be this is it may, the secret was not long kept.

Esther Wilson impeached her master's loyalty, and she herself was indignantly assailed for her treachery by Molly Finigan, who hoped in her soul that her master and young mistress would both die in the true Church yet.
The whole kitchen was in a buzz; in fact, a regular scene ensued.

Every one spoke, except Lanigan, who, from former experience, understood the case perfectly; but, as for Malcomson, whose zeal on this occasion certainly got the better of his discretion, he seemed thunderstruck.
"Eh, sirs! did ony one ever hear the like o' this ?--to hide a rebel priest frae the offended laws! But it canna be that this puir man is athegether right in his head.

Lord ha'e a care o' us! the man surely must be demented, or he wouldna venture to bring such a person into his ain house--into the vara house.

I think, Maisther Lanigan, it wad be just a precious bit o' service to religion and our laws to gang and tell the next magistrate.