have to be I'd have kept it from her.
It doesn't be natural for a woman to be dressed up grand when a lot of
murdering ruffians from behind the bog has been shooting her husband
half the night."

"Bedam," said Peter Walsh, "is that the way it is?"

"It is that way. And I wouldn't wonder but there'll be questions asked
about it in Parliament after."

"You'll be wanting the doctor," said Peter Walsh, "to be picking the
shot out of you."

"As soon as ever you've got the sergeant," said Sweeny, "you'll go round
for the doctor."

"And what'll he say when there's no shot in you?"

"Say! He'll say what I bid him? Ain't I Chairman of the Board of
Guardians, and doesn't he owe me ten pounds and more this minute, shop
debts. What would he say?

"He's a gentleman that likes a drop of whisky," said Peter Walsh.

"I'll waste no whisky on him. Where's the use when I can get what I want
without?"

Peter Walsh meditated on the situation for a minute or two. Then the
full splendour of the plan began to dawn on him.

"The master," he said, "will be taking down the depositions that you'll
be making in the presence of the sergeant."

"He will," said Sweeny, "for there's no other magistrate in the place
only myself and him, and its against the law for a magistrate to take
down his own depositions and him maybe dying at the time."

"There'll be only myself then to take the strange gentleman to Inishbawn
in the boat."

"And who's better fit to do it? Haven't you known the bay since you were
a small slip of a boy?"

"I have surely."

"Is there a rock or a tide in it that isn't familiar to you?"

"There is not."

"And is there a man in Rosnacree that's your equal in the handling of a
small boat?"

"Sorra the one."

"Then be off with you and get the gun the way I told you."

At half-past ten Sir Lucius and Lord Torrington drove into the town and
pulled up opposite Brannigan's shop. The _Tortoise_ lay at her moorings,
a sight which gratified Sir Lucius. After his experience the day before
he was afraid that Peter Walsh might have beached the boat in order to
execute some absolutely necessary repairs. He congratulated himself on
having suggested to Sergeant Rafferty that one of the constables should
keep an eye on her.

"There's the boat, Torrington," he said. "She's small, and there's a
fresh breeze. But if you don't mind getting a bit wet she'll take us
round the islands in the course of the day. If your daughter is