“‘My father,’ said he, ‘I confess that three months ago I shot a man and killed him.’
“‘Oh, oh!’ thought the priest, ‘this is a serious matter.’
“He still held the billiard chalk in his hand, and with it made a mark on his left sleeve.
“‘Go on, my son,’ he said aloud.
“‘That is not all,’ stammered the man. ‘Two days later I shot Paddy Ryan.... But I only wounded him.’
“The priest made a second mark on his sleeve, and repeated with a sigh:
“‘Go on, my son.’
“‘Since that I have shot at Corney O’Sullivan, and then at Tim O’Flaherty, and then again at Timothy O’Hagan.’
“The priest sprung up in his arm-chair.