"It's because you like to be sat upon. You don't want to be allowed to say bo to a goose. I have often heard in my own country—"
"But you call yourself an Irishman, Mr. O'Mahony."
"Never did so in my life. They called me so over there when they wanted to return me to hold my tongue in that House of Torment; but I guess it will puzzle the best Englishman going to find out whether I'm an American or an Irishman. They did something over there to make me an American; but they did nothing to unmake me as an Irishman. And there I am, member for Cavan; and it will go hard with me if I don't break that Speaker's heart before I've done with him. What! I ain't to say that he goes wrong when he never goes right by any chance?"
"Have you come here this morning, Mr. O'Mahony, to abuse the Speaker?"
"By no means. It was you who threw the Speaker in my teeth."
Lord Castlewell did acknowledge to himself his own imprudence.
"I came here to tell you about my daughter, and upon my word I shall find it more difficult than anything I may have to say to the Speaker. I have the most profound contempt for the Speaker."
"Perhaps he returns it."
"I don't believe he does, or he wouldn't make so much of me as to turn me out of the House. When a man finds it necessary to remove an enemy, let the cause be what it may, he cannot be said to despise that enemy. Now, I wouldn't give a puff of breath to turn him out of the House. In truth, I despise him too much."
"He is to be pitied," said the lord, with a gentle touch of irony.