“When Essex was over here in the Elizabethan wars—­and a nice hand he made of them; not, God knows, that we ought to regret it, but I like a good general whether he is for us or against us—­devil a doubt of that:  well, when Essex was over here conducting them (with reverence be it spoken) it so happened that he had a scoundrel with him by name Hamilton—­and a thorough scoundrel was he.  O Lord! if I had lived in those days, and wasn’t in Orders to tie my hands up—­but no matter; this same scoundrel was one of the handsomest vagabonds in the English camp.  Well and good; but, indeed, to tell God’s truth, it was neither well nor good, because, as I said, the man was a first-rate, tiptop scoundrel; but you will find that he was a devilish sight more so before I have put a period to my little narration.  Mr. Woodward, will you hob or nob?  I think your name is Woodward?”

“With great pleasure, sir,” replied Woodward; “and you are right, my name is Woodward; but proceed with your narrative, for, I assure you, I feel very much interested in it, especially in that portion of it which relates to the Black Spectre.  Though not a believer in supernatural appearances, I feel much gratification in listening to accounts of them.  Pray proceed, sir.”

“Well sir, it so happened that this Hamilton, who had been originally a Scotch Redshank, became privately acquainted with a beautiful and wealthy orphan girl, a relation of the O’Neils; and it so happened again, that whether they made a throw on the dice for it or not, he won her affections.  So far, however, there was nothing very particularly obnoxious in it, because we know that intermarriages between Catholics and Protestants may disarm the parties of their religious prejudices against each other; and although I cannot affirm the truth of what I am about to say from my own experience, still, I think I have been able to smell out the fact that little Cupid is of no particular religion, and can be claimed by no particular church; or rather I should say that he is claimed by all churches and all creeds.  This Hamilton, as I said, was exceedingly handsome, but it seems from the tradition that it was by the beauty of his eyes that Eva O’Neil was conquered, just as the first Eve was by the eyes and tongue of the serpent.  Not, God knows, that the great Eve was any great shakes, for she left the world in a nice plight by falling in love with a serpent; but upon my credit she was not the first woman, excuse the blunder, who fell in love with a serpent, and suffered accordingly.  I appeal to Pythagoras there.”

“It is an allegory,” replied the Pythagorean, “and simply means that we are innocent so long as we are young, and that when we come to maturity we are corrupted and depraved by our passions.”

“How the sorra can you say that,” replied the friar, “when you know that Adam and Eve were created full-grown?”

“Pray go on with your tradition,” said Greatrakes, “and let us hear the history of the Black Spectre.  I am not myself an infidel in the history of supernatural appearances, and I wish to hear you out.”