studying
suits, and there's men that it doesn't. I never was much of a one for
books myself.'

He sighed heavily, perhaps at the recollection of his own struggles with
the mysteries of theology in his Maynooth student days. Then he walked
over and closed the door, returned, drew a chair close to Hyacinth, and
spoke in the tone of a man who imparts an important secret.

'Did you hear that Thady Durkan's giving up the fishing? Since he broke
his arm he declares he'll never step aboard the boat again. You know the
St. Bridget. She's not one of the biggest boats, but she's a very lucky
one. She made over five hundred pounds last year, besides the share the
Board took. She was built at Baltimore, and the Board spent over two
hundred pounds on her, nets and gear and all. There's only one year more
of instalments to pay off the price of her, and Thady has the rest of
the men bought out. There's nobody owns a stick or a net or a sail of
her except himself, barring, of course, what's due to the Board.'

Hyacinth was sufficiently acquainted with the system on which the
Congested Districts Board provides the Connaught fishermen with boats
and nets to understand Father Moran's rather involved statement
of Durkan's financial position. He did not yet grasp why all this
information should have been conveyed to him in such a solemn and
mysterious tone.

'You might have the _St. Bridget_,' said the priest, 'for one hundred
and fifty pounds down.'

He paused to let the full glory of the situation lay hold upon Hyacinth.
Perhaps he expected an outburst of delight and surprise, but none came.

'Mind you,' he said, 'there's others looking for her. The men that
worked with Thady are thinking of making him an offer, and I dare say
the Board would be glad enough to have the boat owned among them; but I
can put in a word myself both with Thady and the inspector. Faith, the
times is changed since I was a young man. I can remember when a priest
was no more thought of than a barefooted gossure out of a bog, and now
there isn't a spalpeen of a Government inspector but lifts his hat to me
in the street. Oh, a note from me will go a good way with the Board,
and you'll not miss the chance for want of my good word--I promise you
that.'

'Thank you,' said Hyacinth.

'Mind you, there's a good thing to be made out of her. But sure you know
that as well as I do myself, and maybe better. What do you say now?'

'I'll think it over,' said Hyacinth,