"Maybe they did—maybe you were there; only if so I disremember you; but thim's not the words I swore to."
"Well, they didn't agree to sod him, or kill him, or murder him, or do for him; what was it they were to do for him?"
"They were to rid the counthry of him."
"What—make the country too hot to hold him? eh, is that what you mean?"
"It don't matter what I mean; that warn't what they meant."
"And how do you know what they meant?"
"Why, they meant to kill the man; you know that as well as I."
"But I don't know it—nor do I think it; nor what is more, do you think it; for you are sharp enough to know that where there are so many figurative terms in use to signify murder, it is not probable that had they, on this occasion, wished to signify murder, they would have used a phrase which every one knows expresses an intention to drive a man out of the country. Yes, sir, you know that not one of the party would have dared to propose to Mr. Macdermot to have a share in murder. You and they talked of murder at Mrs. Mulready's, but you know that for your life you would not have dared to mention it before Mr. Macdermot. Now tell me how long was the prisoner at the wedding party?"
"Maybe three hours."
"Was he sober when he came in?"