“Ay, but do they never happen to get both, John?” returned the magistrate. “But what has a horsewhipping and a citaytion to the Bishop's Court to do with aich other?”
“Simply this,” replied the other, “that when my father hears I horsewhip any of them, he takes no further proceedings against them; and whenever I wish, consequently, to keep a fellow out of that troublesome situation, I horsewhip him from pure kindness.”
“So that you look upon that as a good turn to them?”
“Precisely, sir. As I said, I horsewhip them from motives of humanity.”
“Faith and don't be surprised, John, if they should happen to put a bullet through you from motives of humanity some of these days. However, do you think it is of importance?”
“Is what, sir?”
“The conspiracy. I beg your pardon—come into the office till I see what I can do for you at all events.”
He accordingly preceded Purcel to his office, accompanied by Sam Finigan, a kind of thorough male domestic who acted as his clerk. Here he took his seat with a good deal of ceremony, hemmed several times, and desired Hourigan to be admitted. Just at that moment, and while Hourigan was coming in, a young lad, or tiger, a son of Finigan's, by the way, who had been in the habit of carrying letters to and from the neighboring post-office, now entered and presented him with one, to the following effect:—
“TO O'DRISKAL, THE SHONEEN MAGISTRIDGE.
“Sur this is to let you no that if you go an givin wan la for the poor and anud'her for the rich you will soon get a bullet through you as Tandrem af Tavnibeg got. If you wish to bay safe thin bay the poor man's friend—oderways it'll be worse for you.