Clinton the elder here withdrew, and had scarcely disappeared when two voices were heard in the hall, in a kind of clamorous remonstrance with each other, which voices were those of Father Magowan and our friend O’Finigan, as we must now call him, inasmuch as he is, although early in the day, expanded with that hereditary sense of dignity which will not allow the great O to be suppressed.

“Behave, and keep quiet, now,” said his Reverence, “you unfortunate pedagogue you; I tell you that you are inebriated.”

“Pardon me, your Reverence,” replied O’Finigan; “non ebrius sed vino gravatus, devil a thing more.”

“Get out, you profligate,” replied the priest, “don’t you know that either, at this time o’ day, is too bad?”

“Nego, dominie—­nego, Dominie revendre—­denial is my principle, I say.  Do you assert that there’s no difference between ebrius and gravatus vino?”

“In your case, you reprobate, I do.  Where would you get the vino?  However,” he proceeded, “as you are seldom sober, and as I know it is possible you may have something of importance to say on a particular subject, I suppose you may as well say it now as any other time, and it’s likely we may get more truth out of you.”

“Ay,” said the schoolmaster, “upon the principle that in vino veritas; but you know that gravatus vino and ebrius are two different things—­gravatus vino, the juice o’ the grape—­och, och, as every one knows, could and stupid; but ebrius from blessed poteen, that warms and gives ecstatic nutrition to the heart.”

The altercation proceeded for a little, but, after a short remonstrance and bustle, the priest, followed by O’Finigan, entered the room.

“Gentlemen,” said the priest, “I trust you will excuse me for the society in which I happen to appear before you; but the truth is that this Finigan—­”

“Pardon me, your Reverence, O’Finigan if you plaise; we have been shorn of—­”

“Well, then, since he will have it so, this O’Finigan is really inebriated, and I cannot exactly say why, in this state, his presence can be of any advantage to us.”

“He says,” replied the master, “that I am ebrius, whereas I replied that I was only vino gravatus, by which I only meant quasi vino gravatus; but the truth is, gentlemen, that I’m never properly sober until I’m half seas over—­for it is then that I have all my wits properly about me.”

“In fact, gentleman,” proceeded the priest, “in consequence of certain disclosures that have reached me with reference to these Hogans, I deemed it my duty to bring Nanny Peety before Mr. Chevydale here.  She is accompanied by Kate Hogan, the wife of one of these ruffians, who refuses to be separated from her—­and insists, consequently, on coming along with her.  I don’t exactly know what her motive may be in this; but I am certain she has a motive.  It is a gratification to me, however, to find, gentlemen, that you both happen to be present upon this occasion.  I sent word to Hycy Burke and to Bryan M’Mahon; for I thought it only fair that Hycy should be present, in order to clear himself in case any charge may be brought against him.  I expect M’Mahon, too.”