DEVLIN
Tis the truth I’m tellin’ you.

FIRST POLICEMAN Nonsense, nonsense.  What greater proof could we have of your guilt?  This man here who you gave the letter of introduction is a stranger to the town and the piece of cloth that Mr. Cassily found hangin’ on a nail in his back porch after the burglary was committed, is the piece of cloth that is missin’ from this man’s coat. (Fits the piece of cloth) And we have found the identical watch and chain on your own person.

SECOND POLICEMAN
’Twas a clever scheme of the pair of them and no
doubt about it.

CASSILY I never thought that any one could add insult to injury in such a manner.  I was always a friend to you, Garret Devlin, and you tried to get this man who had already robbed me, a position in my establishment so that he could rob me all the more.

FALVEY As sure as my great-grandfather is dead and gone, I tell you that I got this coat from a stranger in this very house.

DEVLIN And as sure as the devil has paid a visit this blessed day to Castlemorgan, I tell you I bought that watch and chain from a stranger also.  William Driscoll will prove that there were two such men in his house.

FIRST POLICEMAN If William Driscoll says a word in your defence, he’ll be arrested on suspicion also. (To the publican) What have you to say?

DRISCOLL Not a word, constable, not a word.  I know nothin’ at all about the matter except readin’ the account of the dreadful affair in the mornin’ paper. [First policeman places the handcuffs on both, and walks them towards the door.

DEVLIN
What’s goin’ to happen to us at all, at all?

FIRST POLICEMAN
The judge will tell you that at the next assizes.

CURTAIN

* * * * *

MATCHMAKERS

A COMEDY IN ONE ACT

CHARACTERS

DONAL CORCORAN A farmer
MARY ELLEN CORCORAN Wife of Donal Corcoran
KITTY CORCORAN Daughter of Ellen and Donal Corcoran
DENIS DELAHUNTY A farmer
ANASTATIA DEALHUNTY Wife of Denis Delahunty
CONSTABLE DUNLEA A member of the R. I. C.

MATCHMAKERS

A COMEDY IN ONE ACT

Place:  An island off the West coast of Ireland.

Scene:  Interior of Donal Corcoran’s house.  Donal and his wife seated in two comfortable armchairs by the parlour fire.  The parlour is well furnished, and Kitty is busy dusting, as visitors are expected.  Donal is a man of about fifty-six years, and his wife is a little younger.  Donal is reading a copy of the Galway Examiner, and his wife is knitting a stocking.

DONAL (as he stretches the paper in front of him.  With a look of surprise) Glory be to God!