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Purcel before my father has gone out?" "I don't know, plaise your honor." "Did any person go out within the last few minutes?" "Yes, sir, there went a man out; maybe it was him." "You don't know Hourigan's appearance, then?" "No, sir. Hourigan, was that his name?" "Yes. Are you a native of this county?" "Not exactly, sir; but I have friends in it." "Who are they?"
The two young friends were now satisfied of Hourigan's falsehood, and perhaps of his treachery; and a very slight but significant glance to that effect passed between them. "Well, well," said the magistrate, "we I mane myself, at any rate are well able to protect ourselves.
"I hope, my lard an' gintlemen, that I has now done my duty in defendin' the Purcels and that I've proved to your satisfaction that they ought to be acquitted." This harangue of Hourigan's was received with singular alternations of fierce rage, and mirth that was still fiercer and more frightful.
I'm a good deal relieved, Sam, and hem hem let us proceed to investigate this important matter of Hourigan's.
However," he added, "if you will postpone this matter of Hourigan's for a few minutes, I shall soon see whether there is any one there or not." Purcel declined them with a nod, taking a good case at the same time out of his own pocket. "No, sir, thank you, I never travel without my two friends here, with either of which I can break a bottle at the distance of thirty yards.
We returned the fire instantly, but whether with any fatal effect or not we could not say. When the smoke cleared away they had disappeared, but early this morning traces of blood were found on the spot. A servant of O'Driscol's, named Phil Hart, says they received no injury, for that he followed them at a distance up as far as Darby Hourigan's, near whose door they fired a couple of shots.
John, on arriving, found him reading a paper in the breakfast-parlor, and saw Hourigan waiting outside, who, by the way, gave him such a look as a cat might be supposed to bestow upon a mastiff from whom she dreaded an attack a look which, in Hourigan's case, combined as much ferocious vengeance and sullen hang-dog cowardice as could well be brought together on the same features.
"Well, then, I didn't hear; but anyhow, they say that a new workin' boy of O'Driscol's, that dogged them up beyant Darby Hourigan's, was wounded by them, along with Darby himself, in regard, of his having joined the young fellow in dodgin' afther them." "Are they seriously hurt?" asked John. "Throth that's more than I can say, but I hope they're not, poor fellows; at any rate, I'm sure Mr.
"Pardon me, Mr. Purcel," said the magistrate, interrupting him with what he intended to be dignity, "you forget what is due to the court, sir. There must be no swearing nor abuse here. The court must be respected, Mr. Purcel." These words brought a sneer of secret triumph upon Hourigan's features, that was unquestionably very provoking.
Fergus and Purcel, on their way from the shrubbery to the house, fell upon a simpler plan by which to detect Hourigan's falsehood, and ascertain whether there existed any personal acquaintance or understanding of any sort between him and the new-comer.
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