'Men of rank and honour at fists like a parcel of carters!' "'Men of honour!' says the Count, who had fetched up his breath by this time.

(I made for the door, but Macshane held me and said, 'Major, you are not going to shirk him, sure ?' Whereupon I gripped his hand and vowed I would have the dog's life.) "'Men of honour!' says the Count.

'I tell you the man is a deserter, a thief, and a swindler! He was my corporal, and ran away with a thou--' "'Dog, you lie!' I roared out, and made another cut at him with my cane; but the gentlemen rushed between us.
"'O bluthanowns!' says honest Macshane, 'the lying scounthrel this fellow is! Gentlemen, I swear be me honour that Captain Wood was wounded at Barcelona; and that I saw him there; and that he and I ran away together at the battle of Almanza, and bad luck to us.' "You see, my dear, that these Irish have the strongest imaginations in the world; and that I had actually persuaded poor Mac that he and I were friends in Spain.

Everybody knew Mac, who was a character in his way, and believed him.
"'Strike a gentleman,' says I.'I'll have your blood, I will.' "'This instant,' says the Count, who was boiling with fury; 'and where you like.' "'Montague House,' says I.'Good,' says he.

And off we went.