After Joicey had wanted to know why great guns should be let off at Tynemouth Castle, and Stanhope had promised that for the future they should be fired (if possible) in a whisper ("Savours of a bang," put in Childers, sotto voce), the Irish gentlemen got to their favourite sport, King-Harman baiting. They had one or two good sets-to, making it particularly unpleasant for the Under Secretary about the trial of O'Brien, Resident Magistrates, and Horse-breeding. But this "illigant divarsion" was only a sort of hors d'œuvres to the pièce de résistance, "Supply—Irish Votes," which was as strong and savoury as the National Stew itself.
Dillon began the ball by moving a reduction of the Constabulary Votes, saying that the chief duties of the officers were, driving out with the Country Gentlemen, flirting with all the Young Girls, and shooting with the Landlords.
H. N-rthc-te.
"Ah, so it is," said Joseph Gillis, with a flush of scarlet indignation mounting his noble brow, "It's not the driving and shooting I object to—it's the flirting!"
Joseph Gillis is very excitable when the fair sex is mentioned, and no doubt meant what he said.
Tim Healy followed on, regretting that Grandolph was not there, no doubt for the same reason that the Irish gentleman with a shillelagh was sorry to see no bald pates neat and handy. He said that the Boycotted were the happiest inmates of the distressful country, possibly feeling that they had plenty of time for drinking and fighting.
Then the various votes were taken and "talked at," in the customary way until the hands of the clock marked Three in the morning. Whenever a chance showed itself of a war-whoop—whiz—and down came the club upon somebody—anybody. A couple of hours after midnight the Irishmen became more conciliatory, soothed by the thought that on the following evening they would have King-Harman at their mercy.
"He will take a deal of bating," said Tim, "but whist, you will see how I shall get at him. He's been to Cremorne——"
"Fie, for shame!" cried Joseph Gillis, "don't talk of such sinful places!"