[The Tithe-Proctor by William Carleton]@TWC D-Link bookThe Tithe-Proctor CHAPTER IV 18/22
We don't intend to take harsh measures with you, Jemmy; and you needn't come here again till we send for you." "God bless you, sir; troth I don't know why the people say that you're all hard and unfeelin'-- I can say for myself that I never found you so. Good morning, sir, and thank you, Misther John; and God forgive them that blackens you as they do!" "Yes, Jemmy, I know they hate us, because we compel them to act honestly; but they will soon find that honesty, after all, is the cheapest course,--for we shall take d--d good care to make them pay through the nose for their knavery.
We know they have a gang of firebrand agitators and hungry lawyers at their back; but we shall make them feel that the law is stronger than any treasonable combination that can be got up against it." A third man came in.
"Well, Tom, you're not coming to plead poverty, I hope ?" The man looked around him with peculiar intelligence.
"Are we safe ?" he asked; "and may I spake widout danger ?" "You may, Duggan." "Well, then, I came to say that I'll call over to-morrow evenin' and pay it, but I daren't now." "Why so, Tom ?" "Bekaise the most of us all have the tithe in our pockets, but as a proof that we did not pay it, we will, every man of us, be obliged to show it before we go home.
I might pay it now, Mr.Purcel; but then, if I did, it' very likely I'd be a corpse before this day week.
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