“But,” said I, “you are a Roman Catholic;
and I thought that persons of your religion were excluded from Parliament?”
“Why, upon that very thing the whole matter hinges; people of our religion are determined to be no longer excluded from Parliament, but to have a share in the government of the nation. Not that I care anything about the matter; I merely obey the will of my guardians; my thoughts are fixed on something better than politics.”
“I understand you,” said I; “dog-fighting—well, I can easily conceive that to some minds dog-fighting—”
“I was not thinking of dog-fighting,” said Francis Ardry, interrupting me.
“Not thinking of dog-fighting!” I ejaculated.
“No,” said Francis Ardry; “something higher and much more rational than dog-fighting at present occupies my thoughts.”
“Dear me,” said I, “I thought I had heard you say, that there was nothing like it!”
“Like what?” said Francis Ardry.
“Dog-fighting, to be sure,” said I.