Such language, sirra, was seditious!" "Yes," replied Hourigan, "and you would be right; but there is not one word of truth in what Mr.Purcel says, your worship; for instead of that, plaise your reverence, when I threatened to come to you to get the law against him--'I'll go to Squire Driscol,' says I, 'and that's the gintleman that will give me justice at any rate.' 'You and Squire Driscol may go be hanged,' says he; 'I don't regard him a traneen; he thinks, since he has been made into a justice of pace, that the ground's not worthy to carry him,' says he.

Can you deny that, Mr.John ?" Purcel's limbs began to move, and his very flesh to creep with indignation at the impudent but artful falsehoods of Hourigan, who was likely to succeed in touching the magistrate's weak points with such effect as to gain him over to his side.
The worthy official shook his head with a kind of very high-minded pride, as much as to say, I am far above the level of such observations.
"Mr.Purcel," said he--"he--hem--hem--I am sorry to hear that you could give way to such extramely indiscreet and disrespectful language as this." "Swear him, sir," said Purcel, "and let him be put to his oath, for I protest to heaven, Mr.O'Driscol, and as I am, I trust, an honest man, I never once mentioned your name, nor was there the slightest allusion made to it--none, sir, whatever." "The truth is, I should think it very, strange, Mr.Purcel, and very odd, and very unfriendly and disenganious in you to spake of any magistrate in such a style as that.

However, Sam, take the book and swear Hourigan." Sam accordingly took the book, and putting it into Hourigan's hand, said, "You shall make true answers to such questions as shall be put to you, and swear the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God, and one-and-sixpence to me!" "Never mind the one-and-sixpence at present, Sam," said his master, "he owes you nothing now.

Proceed." Hourigan's thumb had the genuine angle on the back of the book, but it did not escape Sam, who said, "You intend to kiss your thumb, Hourigan, but it's no go; here, sir, stand there, so that the book won't be a screen for you; turn round--there now--proceed." Hourigan, finding that the evasion in this instance was impracticable, gave it a strong, derisive smack that might be heard outside the room.
"I hope," he added, "you are satisfied now, Mr.Finigan." "I see," replied Sam, "that you've kissed the book when you were made to do it; but I see jist as clearly that the sorra much truth are we goin' to get out of yoU." The case then proceeded; but as it would prove, probably, rather tiresome to the generality of our readers, we shall not give it at length.

It was quite evident, however, that the plaintiff and defendant both were well acquainted with the vacillating and timid character of the magistrate, who in the case before us was uniformly swayed by the words of the last speaker; and it was equally evident that each speaker so shaped his arguments as that they might the more effectually bear upon O'Driscol's weak points.
"Hem--hem--this, I persave, turns out to be a very important and difficult case, Mr.Purcel--a very difficult case, Hourigan--a--a--a case indeed that requires great deliberation and coolness.