The father looked at Phil, to ascertain whether he was serious or not, but so unmeaning or equivocal was the expression of his countenance that he could make nothing out of it.

“You are reasoning,” said Solomon, “upon wrong, certainly not upon purely gospel principles, Phil.  The wig at this moment has a great deal more of Popery in it than ever it had of Protestantism.”

“And, if I’m not much mistaken, more honesty, too,” observed Val, who had not forgotten the opposition he received in the grand jury room by Lucre’s friends; nor the fact that the same reverend gentleman had taken many fat slices of his mouth on several other occasions.

“Well, then, confound the wig,” said Phil, “and that’s all I have to say about it.”

Paddy then paid his rent, and having received a receipt, was about to go, when Val thus addressed him:—­“Paddy, I hope you will not hesitate to give up that farm of yours at Slatbeg; I told you before that if you do, I’ll be a friend to you for life.”

“I’ll sell it, sir,” said Paddy; “but surely you wouldn’t have me to give up my interest in such a farm as that.”

“I’ll make it up to you in other ways,” said Val; “and I’ll mention you besides to Lord Cumber.”

“I’m thankful to you, sir,” said Paddy; “but it’s in heaven I’ll be, most likely, before ever you see his face.”

“Then, you won’t give it up, nor rely upon my generosity or Lord Cumber’s?  It’s Lord Cumber you will be obliging, not me.”

“Wid every respect for you both, sir,” replied Paddy, “I must think of my own flesh and blood, my childre, and grand-childre, and great-grand-childre, before I think of either you or him.  The day, sir, you made me tipsy, and sent me on your own car for the lease, I would a given it—­but then, they wouldn’t let me at home, and so, on thinking-it over—­”

“Pooh, you’re doting, man, you’re doting,” said Val. “go home, now—­but I tell you, you will have cause to remember this before you die, old as you are—­go home.”

“The truth is, Solomon, I was offered two hundred pounds for it by one of my ‘hounds’ which would be a good thing enough, and would afford you a slice into the bargain.  The old fellow would have brought me the lease the day he speaks of, were it not for the family—­and, talking of leases, you will not forget to draw up those two for the O’Flaherties, with a flaw in each.  They are certainly with us up to the present time, but, then, we can never be sure of these Papists.”

“No, d—­n my honor, if ever we can,” re-echoed Phil; “they hate us because we keep them down.  Put in two good thumping flaws, Solomon, and be hanged to you; so that we can pop them out if ever they refuse to vote for us.”

“Never you mind Solomon,” said his father, “Solomon will put in a pair of flaws that will do him honor.”

“If I did not feel that in doing so, my dear M’Clutchy, I am rendering a service to religion, and fighting a just and righteous fight against Popery and idolatry, I would not deem myself as one permitted to do this thing—­but the work is a helping forward of religion, and that is my justification.”