BILLY DUFFY AND THE DEVIL.
Billy Duffy was an Irishman, a blacksmith, and a drunkard. He had the Keltic aversion from steady work, and stuck to his forge only long enough to get money for drink; when that was spent, he returned to work.
Billy was coming home one day after one of these drinking-bouts, soberer than usual, when he exclaimed to himself, for the thirst was upon him, “By God! I would sell myself to the devil if I could get some more drink.”
At that moment a tall gentleman in black stepped up to him, and said, “What did you say?”
“I said I would sell myself to the devil if I could get a drink.”
“Well, how much do you want for seven years, and the devil to get you then?”
“Well, I can’t tell exactly, when it comes to the push.”
“Will £700 do you?”
“Yes; I’d take £700.”