He accordingly threw himself on the shakedown, and in a short time, as was evident by his snoring, fell into a profound sleep.
This was an experiment, though a hazardous one, as we have said; but so far it was successful. In the course of half an hour the Red Rapparee came in, dressed in his uniform. On looking about him he exclaimed, with an oath,
“Who the hell is here?”
“Why,” replied Mary Mahon, “a poor ould man that axed for charity an' lodgin' for the night.”
“And why did you give it to him?”
“Bekaise my charity to him may take away some of my sins.”
“Some of your devils!” replied the savage, “and I think you have enough of them about you. Didn't you know I was to come here to-night, as I do almost every night, for an hour or two?”
“You was drinkin',” she replied, “and you're drunk.”
“I am drunk, and I will be drunk as often as I can. It's a good man's case. Why did you give a lodgin' to this ould vagabone?”
“I tould you the raison,” she replied; “but you needn't care about him, for there's not a word of English in his cheek.”