Still with the suspicion of conscious weakness, he read something affecting himself in the general buzz and countenance of the assembly; and said to Devereux, on purpose loud enough for Toole to hear--'Ensign Puddock and myself would be proud to know what was the divarting tom-foolery going on about the floor, and for which we arrived unfortunately a little too leet ?' 'Tom-foolery, Sir, is an unpleasant word!' cried the little doctor, firing up, for he was a game-cock.
'Tom Toolery he means,' interposed Devereux, 'the pleasantest word, on the contrary, in Chapelizod.

Pray, allow me to say a word a degree more serious.

I'm commissioned, Lieutenant Puddock and Lieutenant O'Flaherty' (a bow to each), 'by Mr.Mahony, who acted the part of second to Mr.
Nutter, on the recent occasion, to pray that you'll be so obliging as to accept his apology for not being present at this, as we all hope most agreeable meeting.

Our reverend friend, Father Roach whose guest he had the honour to be, can tell you more precisely the urgent nature of the business on which he departed.' Father Roach tried to stop the captain with a reproachful glance, but that unfeeling officer fairly concluded his sentence notwithstanding, with a wave of his hand and a bow to the cleric; and sitting down at the same moment, left him in possession of the chair.
The fact was, that at an unseemly hour that morning three bailiffs--for the excursion was considered hazardous--introduced themselves by a stratagem into the reverend father's domicile, and nabbed the high-souled Patrick Mahony, as he slumbered peacefully in his bed, to the terror of the simple maid who let them in.

Honest Father Roach was for showing fight on behalf of his guest.