"I tell you it's no matter; he intended doing it, and that's all the
same. I'll slap at him,--I'll blister him!"
Murtough Murphy wondered at this blind fury of the squire, who, being a
good-humoured and good-natured fellow in general, puzzled the attorney
the more by his present manifest malignity against O'Grady. But he had
not seen the turn-over of the letter: he had not seen "_bladdher_,"--the
real and secret cause of the "war to the knife" spirit which was kindled
in the squire's breast.
"Of course you can do what you please; but, if you'd take a friend's
advice----"
"I tell you I'll blister him."
"He certainly _bled_ you very freely."
"I'll blister him, I tell you, and that smart. Lose no time, Murphy, my
boy: let loose the dogs of law on him, and harass him till he'd wish the
d--l had him."
"Just as you like; but----"
"I'll have it my own way, I tell you; so say no more."
"I'll commence against him at once then, as you wish it; but it's no
use, for you know very well that it will be impossible to serve him."
"Let me alone for that: I'll be bound I'll find fellows to get the
inside of him."
"Why, his house is barricaded like a jail, and he has dogs enough to
bait all the bulls in the country."
"No matter; just send me the blister for him, and I'll engage I'll stick
it on him."
"Very well, squire; you shall have the blister as soon as it can be got
ready. I'll tell you whenever you may send over to me for it, and your
messenger shall have it hot and warm for him. Good-b'ye, squire."
"Good-b'ye, Murphy!--lose no time."
"In the twinkling of a bed-post. Are you going to Tom Durfy's
steeple-chase?"
"I'm not sure."
"I've a bet on it. Did you see the Widow Flanagan lately? You didn'?
They say Tom's pushing it strong there. The widow has money, you know,
and Tom does it all for the love o' God; for you know, squire, there are
two things God hates,--a coward and a poor man. Now, Tom's no coward;
and, that he may be sure of the love o' God on the other score, he's
making up to the widow; and, as he's a slashing fellow, she's nothing
loth, and, for fear of any one cutting him out, Tom keeps as sharp a
look-out after her as she does after him. He's fierce on it, and looks
pistols at any one that attempts putting his _comether_ on the widow,
while she looks "as soon as you plaze," as plain as an optical lecture
can enlighten the heart of man: in short, Tom's all ram's horns, and the
widow all sheep's eyes. Good-b'ye, squire!" And Murtough put spurs to
his horse and cantered down the avenue, singing.
Andy was sent over to Murtough Murphy's for the law process at the
appointed time; and, as he had to pass through the village, Mrs. Egan
desired him to call at the apothecary's for some medicine that was
prescribed for one of the children.
"What'll I ax for, ma'am?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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