you and me, I believe I have it in my power to send up a candidate to Maynooth.  ’Tis true, I never make a promise—­nunquam facio votum, except in certain cases, or, in other words, Dionysius, exceptis excipiendis—­in which is the essence, as it were, of a proper vow.’  In the meantime he proceeded—­’With regard to your prospects in the church, I can only say, in the first place, and I say it with much truth and sincerity—­that I’m badly off for a horse; that, however, is, as I said, inter nos—­sub sigillo.  The old garran I have is fairly worn out—­and, not that I say it, your father has as pretty a colt as there is within the bounds—­intra terminos parochii mei, within the two ends of my parish:  verbum sat—­which is, I’m sure you’re a sensible and discreet young man.  Your father, Dionysius, is a parishioner whom I regard and esteem to the highest degree of comparison, and you will be pleased to report my eulogium to himself and to his dacent family—­and proud may they be of having so brilliant a youth among them as you are—­ehem!’

“Now, you may all think that this was plain conversation; but I had read too much for that.  In fact, it was logic—­complate, convincing logic, every word of it.  So I responded to him in what is called in the books, the argumentum ad crumenam; although I question but it ought to be designated here the argumentum ad bestiam.  Said I, ’Father Finnerty, the colt, my paternal property, which you are pleased to eulogize so highly, is a good one; it was designed for myself when I should come out on the mission; however, I will undertake to say, if you get me into Maynooth, that my father, on my authority, will lend you the colt tomorrow, and the day of his claiming it will be dependent upon the fulfilment of your promise or votum.’

“‘Signatum et sigttlatum est,’ said he—­for, indeed, the best part of the discussion was conducted in Latin; ‘and now,’ he continued, ’my excellent Dionysius, nothing remains but that the colt be presented—­’

—­“‘Lent,’ I responded, correcting him, ’you see, even although he was the priest—­’lent,’ said I; ’and your Reverence will be good enough to give the votum before one or two of my friends.’

“He looked at me sharply, not expecting to find such deep logic in one he conjectured to be but a tyro.

“‘You will be a useful man in the church,’ he added, ’and you deserve to be pushed on at all events.  In the meantime, tell your father that I’ll ride up and breakfast with him to-morrow, and he can have a friend or two to talk over the compactum.’

“So, father, there’s the state of the question at present; the accomplishment of the condition is dependent upon yourself.”