“Fiction, Captain! Sowl, I don't know what you call a fiction—but if I'm guessin' properly, hell to the much of it was in his blows—look at how my head is, and I wish you could see my ribs, plase your worship.”
“Well but let us come to the most important matter first—and before I go further, my friends and brothers, I would just throw out for your satisfaction, a few observations that I wish to impress upon you. Recollect that in this business, and in every business like it, you must have the pleasure at least of reflecting that you have now a magistrate who will see that all due care is taken of your interests—who will accompany your proceedings step by step, and see that all is as it ought to be. That is not partiality, my dear friends; that is not favor nor affection, nor leaning to you; no, nor—ha, ha, ha, leaning from you, either, my friends.”
“Long life to your worship! Long life to you, Captain! You're the right sort, and no mistake.”
“M'Dowel, what detained you from your lodge on Thursday night.”
“I was buying a springer in Hush fair, and didn't get home in time, your worship.”
“Well, M'Dowel, mark-me,—I neither can, nor will, overlook neglect in these matters. The man that neglects them wilfully, is a man I won't depend upon—and two of your neighbors were absent from parade on Wednesday week. Now, it's really too bad to expect that I, or any other gentleman in the country, will exert ourselves so strenuously to sustain and extend our own principles, or! to speak plainly, to keep them up—to maintain our ascendancy,—if we cannot reckon upon the earnest and cordial support of those for whose sake we take all this trouble—upon my honor it's a shame.”
“It is a shame, Captain, and I say here's one,” placing his hand upon his heart, “of the right kidney. By the holy William, there is.”
“We're all so, your worship,” replied Sharpe, “and sure every one knows it—but, plaise your honor, what's to be done about Harman?”
“Why, prosecute him for the murder of course.”
“But then,” said one of them, “sure Harman didn't murder him, Captain—among ourselves, it was all accident.”