“Really,” said I, “I am quite in the dark. Do try and explain. Tell me what it is all about.”
“Why, A larn that ye’re always out at nicht all over the country, and that ye’ve openly told people here that ye’re interested in moon-lichtin’.”
“My dear sir, some one is quite mad! I never said such a thing—indeed, I don’t know anything about moon-lighting.”
“Then why do ye go out at nicht?”
“Simply to see the country at night—to look at the views—to enjoy effects of moonlight.”
“There ye are, ye see—ye enjoy the moonlicht effect.”
“Good lord! I mean the view—the purely æsthetic effect—the chiaroscuro—the pretty pictures!”
“Oh, aye! A see now—A ken weel! Then A needn’t trouble ye further. But let ma tell ye that it’s a dangerous practice to walk out be nicht. There’s many a man in these parts watched and laid for. Why in Knockcalltecrore there’s one man that’s in danger all the time. An’ as for ye—why ye’d better be careful that yer nicht wanderins doesn’t bring ye ento trouble,” and he went away.
At last I got so miserable about my own love affair that I thought I might do a good turn to Dick; and so I determined to try to buy from Murdock his holding on Knockcalltecrore, and then to give it to my friend, as I felt that the possession of the place, with power to re-exchange with Joyce, would in no way militate against his interests with Norah.
With this object in view I went out one afternoon to Knockcalltecrore, when I knew that Dick had arranged to visit the cutting at Knocknacar. I did not tell anyone where I was going, and took good care that Andy went with Dick. I had acquired a dread of that astute gentleman’s inferences.