the earl. "I wish
all the police force were Protestants; I think they would be much more
effective. But Serjeant Carroll was a very good man; you know he was
removed from hence on his promotion."

"I know he was, my lord--just to please the priests just because he was
a Papist. Do you think there was a single thing done, or a word said at
Petty Sessions, but what Father Flannery knew all about it?--Yes, every
word. When did the police ever take any of Father Flannery's own
people?"

"Didn't Serjeant Carroll take that horrible man Leary, that robbed the
old widow that lived under the bridge?" said the countess.

"True, my lady, he did," said Mr O'Joscelyn; "but you'll find, if
you inquire, that Leary hadn't paid the priest his dues, nor yet
his brother. How a Protestant government can reconcile it to their
conscience--how they can sleep at night, after pandering to the priests
as they daily do, I cannot conceive. How many Protestants did you say
you have, Mr Armstrong?"

"We're not very strong down in the West, Mr O'Joscelyn," said the other
parson. "There are usually two or three in the Kelly's Court pew. The
vicarage pew musters pretty well, for Mrs Armstrong and five of the
children are always there. Then there are usually two policemen, and
the clerk; though, by the bye, he doesn't belong to the parish. I
borrowed him from Claremorris."

Mr O'Joscelyn gave a look of horror and astonishment.

"I can, however, make a boast, which perhaps you cannot, Mr Joscelyn:
all my parishioners are usually to be seen in church, and if one is
absent I'm able to miss him."

"It must paralyse your efforts, preaching to such a congregation," said
the other.

"Do not disparage my congregation," said Mr Armstrong, laughing; "they
are friendly and neighbourly, if not important in point of numbers;
and, if I wanted to fill my church, the Roman Catholics think so well
of me, that they'd flock in crowds there if I asked them; and the
priest would show them the way--for any special occasion, I mean; if
the bishop came to see me, or anything of that kind."

Mr O'Joscelyn was struck dumb; and, indeed, he would have had no time
to answer if the power of speech had been left to him, for the servant
announced dinner.

The conversation was a little more general during dinner-time, but
after dinner the parish clergyman returned to another branch of his
favourite subject. Perhaps, he thought that Mr Armstrong was himself
not very ortho