“I perfectly agree with you,” replied M'Small, “the face of a grand juror will be a novel sight in that direction.”
“And in the other direction,” observed Hartley, “no bridges will be wanted.”
“Why so?” said M'Small.
“Because,” he replied, “there will be such an absence of water as will render them unnecessary.”
“Ay,” retorted another, “but as there will be plenty of grand jurors we may do then as we did now, build the bridge without the water, and trouble ourselves no further with the consequences.”
After much more conversation, partly on business, and partly on desultory topics, the quarrellings, and bickerings, and all the noisy enmities of that corrupt little world that is contained within—we should rather say, that was contained within the walls of a grand jury room, ceased; and, with the exception of one or two small matters of no consequence, everything was settled, but not so as to give general satisfaction; for there still remained a considerable number of grumblers, whose objects had been either completely lost in greater corruption, or set aside for the present.
“Here's another matter,” said Spavin, “which we had better settle at once. A man here named O'Drive—Darby O'Drive—is to be appointed to the under gaolership—he is strongly recommended by Mr. Lucre, as a man that has renounced Popery.”
“That's enough, Spavin,” said Hartley, “that, I suppose, comprises all the virtues necessary for an under gaoler, at all events.”
“You know him, M'Clutchy,” said one or two of them.
“He'll make a good under gaoler,” replied Val, “as there will be in Europe. Appoint him, gentlemen; you will get no such man.”