Great good humour descended on Conachúr.
“Is that where the torque came from, my soul? Your sweet lady must show it to me more closely. You had a hard fight on that occasion?”
“I got away from them,” the Cú answered modestly.
“You got away from them only when you got home,” Bricriu jeered. “It was good running, my sweet.”
“They were very persistent,” the Cú admitted laughingly, “but I got away with my spoil.”
“You know how the Connacht men explain the fact that you are still alive?”
“It will be an unpleasant explanation if it is explained by Bricriu,” said Emer.
“I should like to hear it,” said Conachúr.
“They are telling each other that our Cú was so beautiful they could not bear to kill him: think of that, Cúcuc.”
“It is a stupid sentimental reason,” growled Laerí.