Everything had grown to look repulsive, and every face was sinister now; and the world began to look like a horrible masquerade, full of half-detected murderers, traitors, and miscreants.
'There isn't a soul you can trust--'tis enough to turn a man's head; 'tis sickening, by George!' grumbled the little doctor, fiercely.
'Here's a gentleman, Sir,' said Gamble, waving his pen towards Toole, with a chuckle, 'who believes that ladies like to recover their husbands.' The fellow grew red, and grinned a sly uneasy grin, looking stealthily at Toole, who was rapidly growing angry.
'Yes, Sir, and one who believes, too, that gentlemen ought to protect their wives,' added the little doctor hotly.
'As soon as they know who they are,' muttered the attorney to his papers.
'I think, gentlemen, I'm rather in your way,' said Toole with a gloomy briskness; 'I think 'tis better I should go.

I--I'm somewhat amazed, gentlemen, and I--I wish you a good-morning.' And Toole made them a very stern bow, and walked out at the wrong door.
'This way, by your leave, doctor,' said Mr.Gamble, opening the right one; and at the head of the stairs he took Toole by the cuff, and said he-- 'After all, 'tis but just the wrong Mrs.Nutter should give place to the right; and if you go down to the Mills to-morrow, you'll find she's by no means so bad as you think her.' But Toole broke away from him sulkily, with-- 'I wish you a good-morning, Sir.' It was quite true that Sally Nutter was to hear from Charles and Mr.
Gamble that morning; for about the time at which Toole was in conference with those two gentlemen in Dublin, two coaches drew up at the Mills.
Mr.Gamble's conducting gentleman was in one, and two mysterious personages sat in the other.
'I want to see Mrs.Nutter,' said Mr.Gamble's emissary.
'Mrs.Nutter's in the parlour, at your service,' answered the lean maid who had opened the door, and who recognising in that gentleman an adherent of the enemy, had assumed her most impertinent leer and tone on the instant.
The ambassador looked in and drew back.
'Oh, then, 'tisn't the mistress you want, but the master's old housekeeper; ask _her_.' And she pointed with her thumb towards Molly, whose head was over the banister.
So, as he followed that honest hand-maiden up stairs, he drew from his coat-pocket a bundle of papers, and glanced at their endorsements, for he had a long exposition to make, and then some important measures to execute.
Toole had to make up for lost time; and as he rode at a smart canter into the village, he fancied he observed the signs of an unusual excitement there.

There were some faces at the windows, some people on the door-steps; and a few groups in the street; they were all looking in the Dublin direction.

He had a nod or two as he passed.

Toole thought forthwith of Mr.David O'Reegan--people generally refer phenomena to what most concerns themselves--and a dim horror of some unknown summary process dismayed him; but his hall-door shone peaceably in the sun, and his boy stood whistling on the steps, with his hands in his pockets.
Nobody had been there since, and Pell had not yet called at Sturk's.
'And what's happened--what's the neighbours lookin' after ?' said Toole, as his own glance followed the general direction, so soon as he had dismounted.
''Twas a coach that had driven through the town, at a thundering pace, with some men inside, from the Knockmaroon direction, and a lady that was screeching.