Between these two a perpetual feud had existed, ever since the native had arrived at Arcot, to take his place as a member of Charlie's establishment.

In obedience to Charlie's stringent orders, Tim never was openly rude to him; but he never lost an opportunity of making remarks, of a disparaging nature, as to the value of Charlie's studies.
The moonshee, on his part, generally ignored Tim's existence altogether; addressing him, when obliged to do so, with a ceremonious civility which annoyed Tim more than open abuse would have done.
"I think," he said gravely, in reply to Tim's demand; "that the very worshipful one would have most chance of escaping detection if he went in rags, throwing dust on his hair, and passing for one afflicted." "And what does he mean by afflicted, Mr.Charles ?" the Irishman said wrathfully, as the two young officers laughed.
"He means one who is a born fool, Tim." Tim looked furiously at the moonshee.
"It would," the latter said sententiously, "be the character which the worshipful one would support with the greatest ease." "The black thief is making fun of me," Tim muttered; "but I'll be aven with him one of these days, or my name isn't Tim Kelly.
"I was thinking, yer honor, that I might represent one deaf and dumb." "But you're always talking, Tim, and when you're not talking to others, you talk to yourself.

It's quite impossible you could go as a dumb man; but you might go, as the moonshee suggests, as a half-witted sort of chap; with just sense enough to groom a horse and look after him, but with not enough to understand what's said to you, or to answer any questions." "I could do that asy enough, Mr.Charles." "And you have to keep from quarrelling, Tim.

I hear you quarrelling, on an average, ten times a day; and as, in such a character as we're talking about, you would, of course, be exposed to all sorts of slights and unpleasantnesses, you would be in continual hot water." "Now, yer honor," Tim said reproachfully, "you're too hard on me, entirely.

I like a bit of a row as well as any many, but it's all for divarsion; and I could go on, for a year, without quarrelling with a soul.