Darby would like to have given a ready assent,--he would have been charmed to say that they came daily, that they made the place a continual rendezvous; but as he saw no prospect of being able to give his fiction even twenty-four hours' currency, he merely changed from one leg to the other, and, in a tone of apology, said, “Betimes they does, when the sayson is fine.” “Who are the persons who are most frequently here?” “Those two that you saw last night,--the Major and Dr. Dill. They 're up here every second day, fishing, and eating their dinner with the master.” “Is the fishing good?” “The best in Ireland.” “And what shooting is there,--any partridges?” “Partridges, be gorra! You could n't see the turnips for them.” “And woodcocks?” “Is it woodcocks! The sky is black with the sight of them.” “Any lions?” “Well, maybe an odd one now and then,” said Darby, half apologizing for the scarcity. There was an ineffable expression of self-satisfaction in Conyers's face at the subtlety with which he had drawn Darby into this admission; and the delight in his own acuteness led him to offer the poor fellow a cigar, which he took with very grateful thanks. “From what you tell me, then, I shall find this place stupid enough till I am able to be up and about, eh? Is there any one who can play chess hereabout?” “Sure there's Miss Dinah; she's a great hand at it, they tell me.” “And who is Miss Dinah? Is she young,--is she pretty?” Darby gave a very cautious look all around him, and then closing one eye, so as to give his face a look of intense cunning, he nodded very significantly twice. “What do you mean by that?” “I mane that she'll never see sixty; and for the matter of beauty--” “Oh, you have said quite enough; I 'm not curious about her looks. Now for another point. If I should want to get away from this, what other inn or hotel is there in the neighborhood?” “There's Joe M'Cabe's, at Inistioge; but you are better where you are. Where will you see fresh butter like that? and look at the cream, the spoon will stand in it. Far and near it's given up to her that nobody can make coffee like Miss Dinah; and when you taste them trout, you 'll tell me if they are not fit for the king.” “Everything is excellent,--could not be better; but there's a difficulty. There's a matter which to me at least makes a stay here most unpleasant. My friend tells me that he could not get his bill,--that he was accepted as a guest. Now I can't permit this--”