[Mrs. Corcoran draws her chair near Lady Delahunty and while Donal and Sir Denis are talking, in an undertone, Mrs. Corcoran speaks.
MRS. CORCORAN
That's a beautiful new coat, Lady Delahunty.
LADY DELAHUNTY (proudly)
Fifty-five guineas.
MRS. CORCORAN
'Tis worth more.
LADY DELAHUNTY
So Sir Denis says.
MRS. CORCORAN (stoops and feels the edge of the lace petticoat,
which is well exposed)
That's the nicest piece of lace I have seen for many
a long day.
LADY DELAHUNTY Two pounds ten, and a bargain at that. And three pounds five for my bonnet makes sixty pounds, fifteen shillin's. Not to mention what I had to pay for Dinny's, I mean Sir Denis's new suit and tall hat.
MRS. CORCORAN You could build a house or buy two fine horses for that much.
LADY DELAHUNTY
Indeed, and you could then.
DONAL Now ladies, we must get our business finished, and we can talk after. I am offerin' three hundred pounds, twenty acres of land, five cows, six sheep, three clockin' hens, and a clutch of ducklin's, and want to know without any palaverin' or old gab, whether or not yourself and Sir Denis are prepared to do likewise.