"Well, and what can he say? he can't say Macdermot wasn't there. He can't do any harm, Pat; for if he was to swear that he wasn't there, there's enough to prove that he was."
"No, yer honour, it isn't that he'll be saying, but he'll be saying Captain Ussher's name wasn't mentioned, or may be that the boys were merely taking their drink, innocent like; that's what I be afeared—and that's what Corney 'll say; you'll see av he don't; he's the biggest liar in Drumleesh."
"Oh, they'd soon knock all that out of him; besides, isn't he one of these potheen boys?"
"Faix he is so, Mr. Keegan."
"Then they'll not believe him—they'll believe you a deal sooner than him that way; but you must be plain about this, Brady, that they were talking about Ussher that night—d'ye hear? Be d——d but if you let them shake you about that you're lost. D'ye hear? Why don't you answer me, eh?"
"Oh! shure, your honour, I'll be plain enough; certain sure the Captain's name war mentioned."
"Mentioned! yes, and how was it mentioned? Didn't you tell me that Reynolds and young Macdermot were talking broadly about murdhering him? Didn't they agree to kill him—to choke him in a bog hole—or blow his brains out?"
"It war your honour they war to put in a bog hole."
"D——n them! I'll have 'em before I've done. But don't you know that Macdermot, Reynolds, and the other fellow agreed to put an end to Ussher? Why you told me so twenty times."
"I b'lieve they did; but faix, I ain't shure I heard it all rightly myself, yer honour; I warn't exactly one of the party."