s, something irresistibly comic in this encounter. Bob knew
little or nothing of the Roman Catholic creed; and, as for Darby, we
need not say that he was thoroughly ignorant of Protestantism. Yet,
nothing could be more certain--if one could judge by the fierce
controversial cock of Bob's hat, and the sneering contemptuous
expression of Darby's face, that a hard battle, touching the safest way
of salvation, was about to be fought between them.

Bob, indeed, had of late been anxious to meet Darby, in order, as he
said, to make him "show the cloven foot, the rascal;" but Darby's ire
against the priest was now up; and besides, he reflected that a display
of some kind would recommend him to the Reformationists, especially,
he hoped, to Mr. Lucre, who, he was resolved, should hear it. The two
converts looked at each other with no charitable aspect. Darby was about
to speak, but Bob, who thought there was not a moment to be lost, gave
him a controversial facer before he had time to utter a word:--"How many
articles in your church?"

[Illustration: PAGE 233-- How many articles in your church?]

"How many articles in my church! There's one bad one in your church more
than ought to be in it, since they got you:--but can you tell me how
many sins cry to heaven for vengeance on you, you poor lost hathen?"

"Don't hathen me, you had betther; but answer my question, you rascally
heretic."

"Heretic inagh! oh, thin, is it from a barefaced idolather like you that
we hear heretic called to us! Faith, it's come to a purty time o' day
wid us!"

"You're a blessed convart not to know the Forty-nine articles of your
fat establishment!"

"And I'll hould a wager that you don't know this minute how many
saikerments in your idolathry. Oh, what a swaggerin' Catholic you are,
you poor hair-brained blackguard!"

"I believe you found some convincin' texts in the big purse of the Bible
blackguards--do you smell that, Darby?"

"You have a full purse, they say, but, by the time Father M'Cabe takes
the price of your trangressions out of it--as he won't fail to do--take
my word for it, it'll be as lank as a stocking without a leg in it--do
you smell that, Bob ahagur?"

"Where was your church before the Reformation?"

"Where was your face before it was washed?"

"Do you know the four pillars that your Church rests upon? because if
you don't, I'LL tell you--it was Harry the aigth, Martin Luther, the
Law, and the Devil. Put that in your pipe