Page 277 - The snake's pass

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A TRIP TO PARIS. 265
"A cynic, sir; an', faix, what sin am I up to now?"
" You say poverty is a crime."
" Begor but it's worse ! Most crimes is forgave
!
afther a bit ; an' the law is done wid ye whin ye're
atin' yer skilly. But there's some people—aye ! an'
lashins iv thim too—what 'd rather see ye in a good shute
"
iv coffin than in a bad shute iv clothes !
"Why, Andy, you're quite a philosopher!"
" Bedad, that's quare ; but whisper me now, surr, what
"
kind iv a thing's that ?
" Well wise man — one who
! it's a very loves
wisdom."
" Begor! yer 'an'r, lovin' girruls is more in my shtyle
;
but I thought maybe it was some new kind iv a
Protestan'."
"Why a Protestant?"
" Sorra wan iv me knows ! I thought maybe they
can believe even less nor the ould wans."
Andy's method of theological argument was quite too
difficult for me, so I was silent ; but my companion was
not. He, however, evidently felt that theological disqui-
sition was no more his forte than my own, for he instantly
changed to another topic :
" I'll be goin' back to Knockcalltecrore to-morra, yer
'an'r. I've been tould to call fur Mr. Caicy, th' attorney
savin' yer prisence—to take him back to Carnaclif. Is
there any missage ye'd like to send to any wan ? " He
looked at me so slyly that his meaning was quite
obvious.