"It's a beautiful day, Pat."
"Illigant indade, Misther Wallace," he said, with a curious shake in his voice.
I knocked at the chief's door, went in and shut it, then said in a whisper, "I suspect Pat Kineen of a crime, and wish to arrest him."
"Good heavens! what's the matter?"
"I believe he is at the keyhole now."
I went on tiptoe and put my eye to the hole. A pupil, with anxious inquiry, was trying to solve a problem on the other side. I opened the door and pulled it with all my force. As I expected, Pat fell sprawling into the room.
"What is all this?" said the chief, starting up in a rage.
"This," said I, as cool as a water-melon at four in the morning, "is Pat Kineen, the companion of thieves and a sharer of the plunder."
"Och!" said Pat. "Oi was just clanin' the door-handle whin Misther Wallace pulled me into the room as I was hangin' on to it."