"Yes; and when did they send us?—Late at night, in bad weather, when honest men are wont to stay at home. Think of those devils of robbers that let fly at you from their hiding-places! Did ever a Christian hear of such a thing?"
Mr. Skinner replied, with an expression of profound wisdom: "You see, Bandi, these gentlemen are ignoramuses on county business: and, to tell you a secret, his Excellency, our lord-lieutenant, is not better than any of the rest. But no matter; he gives his orders, and I do as I please; for every office has its peculiar sphere of action, you know, Bandi."
"So it has; but no Christian ought to go out in such a night," said Kenihazy, who would have uttered some severe strictures on the unbecoming behaviour of the lord-lieutenant, but for the rattling of a carriage over the stone pavement of the yard, which attracted their attention.
"Who the deuce is this?" said the justice. "I thought nobody knew of my being here!"
"Petitioners!" cried Kenihazy. "Petitioners!" said he, filling his glass: "they'll come by dozens; for, you see, we are in!"
Mr. Catspaw, who entered the room wrapped up in his bunda, put a stop to their conjectures.
"It is you, my friend!" cried Mr. Skinner, making up to and hugging the little attorney: "I'm happy you've come. We'll have a game at cards."
"Servus humillimus!" cried Kenihazy, who felt that to get up was, for him, a thing of greater difficulty than necessity.
"No gambling to-night!" said Mr. Catspaw, as he struggled in Skinner's embrace. "We must be off."
"Off! and where are you bound to?"