nce, Mr Lynch?"

"It's a lie!" said Barry.

"No it's not," said the parson. "If you forget it, I can call in the
servant to remember so much as that for me; but you'll find it better,
Mr Lynch, to let us finish this business among ourselves. Come, think
about it. I'm sure you remember being knocked down by the doctor."

"I remember a scrimmage there was between us. I don't care what the
girl says, she didn't see it. Colligan, I suppose, has given her
half-a-crown, and she'd swear anything for that."

"Well, you remember the night of the scrimmage?"

"I do: Colligan got drunk here one night. He wanted me to give him a
farm, and said cursed queer things about my sister. I hardly know what
he said; but I know I had to turn him out of the house, and there was a
scrimmage between us."

"I see you're so far prepared, Mr Lynch: now, I'll tell you my version
of the story.--Martin Kelly, just see that the door is shut. You
endeavoured to bribe Doctor Colligan to murder your own sister."

"It's a most infernal lie!" said Barry. "Where's your
evidence?--where's your evidence? What's the good of your all coming
here with such a story as that? Where's your evidence?"

"You'd better be quiet, Mr Lynch, or we'll adjourn at once from here to
the open Court-house."

"Adjourn when you like; it's all one to me. Who'll believe such a
drunken ruffian as that Colligan, I'd like to know? Such a story as
that!"

"My lord," said Armstrong, "I'm afraid we must go on with this business
at the Court-house. Martin, I believe I must trouble you to go down to
the police barrack." And the whole party, except Barry, rose from their
seats.

"What the devil are you going to drag me down to the Court-house for,
gentlemen?" said he. "I'll give you any satisfaction, but you can't
expect I'll own to such a lie as this about my sister. I suppose my
word's as good as Colligan's, gentlemen? I suppose my character as a
Protestant gentleman stands higher than his--a dirty Papist apothecary.
He tells one story; I tell another; only he's got the first word of me,
that's all. I suppose, gentlemen, I'm not to be condemned on the word
of such a man as that?"

"I think, Mr Lynch," said Armstrong, "if you'll listen to me, you'll
save yourself and us a great deal of trouble. You asked me who my
witness was: my witness is in this house. I would not charge you with
so horrid, so damnable a crime, had I not thoroughly convinced myself
you were guilty--now, d