Damer: The same year my luck turned against me, and every horse I would back would get the staggers on the course, or would fail to rise at the leaps.  All the strength of fortune went from me at that time, it is into himself it flowed and ran.  The dead spit and image of myself he is.  Stop with me here through the winter season and through the summer season!  You to be in the house it is not an unlucky house will be in it.  The Royalty of England and of Spain cannot touch upon yourself.  I am prouder of you than if you wrote the wars of Homer or put down Turgesius of the Danes!  You are a lad that can’t be beat.  It is you are the Lamb of Luck!

Staffy: What call has he or any of us to be stopping under Damer’s roof and he owning but the four walls presently and a poor little valley of land?

Ralph: There is nothing worth while in his keeping, and all he had gathered after being robbed.

Damer: Is that what you are saying?  Well, I am not so easy robbed as you think! (Takes bag from the sack and shakes it.) Is that what you call being robbed?

Simon: That is my treasure and my bag!

Staffy: I thought it was after being brought away from the two of you.

Damer: You are out of it!  It is Jubair did that much for me.  Jubair, my darling, it is tonight I’ll bring him back to the house!  It is not in the box he will be any more but alongside the warmth of the hearth.  The time I went unloosing his chain, didn’t he scrape with his paw till he showed me all I had lost hid in under the straw, and it in a spotted bag! (Opens and pours out money.)

Simon: It is as well for you have it back where it stopped so short with myself.

Damer: Is it that I would keep it from you where it was won fair?  It is a rogue of a man would do that.  Where would be the use, and I knowing you could win it back from me at your will, and the five trumps coming into your hand?  It is to share it we will and share alike, so long as it will not give out!

Delia: A little handsel to myself would do the both of you no harm at all.

Damer: Delia, my darling, I’ll go as far as that on this day of wonders.  I’ll handsel you and welcome.  I’ll bestow on you the empty jar. (Gives it to her.)

Delia: I’ll take it.  I’ll let on it to be weighty and I facing back into Loughtyshassy.

Ralph: The neighbours seeing it and taking you to be his heir you might come to your goats yet.

Delia: Ah, what’s goats and what is guinea-hens?  Did ever you see yoked horses in a coach, their skin shining out like shells, rising their steps in tune the same as a patrol of police?  There are peacocks on the lawns of Lough Cutra they were telling me, having each of them a hundred eyes. (Goes to door.)

Simon:  (Putting his hand on the jar.) I don’t know. (To Damer) It might be a nice thing for the two of us to start gathering the full of it again.