"But however was it she did it?" asked the man.
"For shame, Phelim. Were you born on April fool's day not to know that?" laughed Murtagh.
"Go to Shuna Toolin an' get her to teach ye," called out several voices amid fresh derisive laughter.
"Tell us round here, Master Bobbo, honey, that niver asked a question," cried a woman, persuasively.
"Well, it was up there by the river, if you want to know so badly," returned Bobbo.
"Up by the river! Why, sure, that's where the police looked and niver found a bit of her!" cried several voices together.
"Don't be insulting us comparing us to those omadhauns of police, that don't know a whisky press when they see one," called Murtagh.
Roars of laughter interspersed with "Arrah whisht, Mr. Murtagh," greeted that remark. Then some one cried out, "Three cheers for the young ladies and gentlemen," and Nessa's bewildered ears were deafened with three loud "Hurrahs."
"Three groans for the polis!" called another.
In the midst of the hearty groan with which he responded to the invitation, Murtagh caught sight of Nessa trying to lift little Ellie out of the crush.