Phil, my boy, there is nothing like religion and loyalty when well managed, but otherwise--" "They are not worth a feather," replied Phil; "right, captain--there's an oracle again." "And, Phil, my son; what is there wrong in this?
In fact there is scarcely a better capital to trade on than religion and loyalty.

You know what I mean, Phil;--not the things, if there be such things, which I must beg leave to doubt; but that principle which causes one man to hate another, in proportion to its influence over him." "Ay," said Phil, "just as you and I, who have not got a touch of religion in our whole composition, have the character of being two of the staunchest Protestants in the county." "Yes," replied the father, "and in this case the fiction is as good and better than the truth.

The fiction, Phil, under which our religion appears is our own interests--no, I am wrong--the fiction under which our interest appeal's is our religion--that is the way of it; and the truth is, Phil, that ninety-nine men out of every hundred will go ninety-nine miles for their interests, before they will go one for either religion or truth--that's the way of it, too.

However, pass that--now about Poll Doolin and the hint I gave you ?" "Why, you know at that time matters were not ripe for it.

Don't you remember telling me so yourself ?" "I do, but I speak of your present intentions." "Faith, my present intentions would be to marry the girl, Papist though she be, if I could; but as that's out of the question, I will now follow up your hint." "Then you had better see Poll, and go on with it.