“An’ is thot pwhat ye are?” he cried, glaring at Merry. “May th’ ould b’y floy away wi’ all studints, yersilf included! Divvil a bit av good are they at all, at all. Look at me, mon! Oi’m here fer doin’ av me duty an’ attimptin’ to arrist wan av thim spalpanes, bad cess to him!” “That is what I wished to see you about, sir,” said Merry, in a manner that seemed to indicate that he had something he wished to say to O’Farrel in confidence. “Well, now, me b’y, Oi dunno pwhat ye want ter see me about thot fer. There’s some av thim hillions thot Oi’ll make sorry they iver bothered wid Patsy O’Farrel in th’ discharge av his duty. Here Oi am in bid, wid me body bruised, an’ it’s a miracle that none av me bones are broken.” Frank started slightly. “It was fortunate that none of your bones were broken,” he said. “But me back is spraint so it pains me th’ whole toime,” said O’Farrel, hastily. “I believe it was thought at first that some of your ribs were broken?” “Yis, Oi thought so mesilf, but th’ docthers say Oi’m not thot bad hurrut.” Frank drew a breath of relief, feeling thankful, indeed, for this knowledge. The little cop began to scowl again, and pucker up his homely face. “So it’s a studint ye are?” he exclaimed. “Well, Oi dunno thot Oi want to talk wid ye at all, at all.” “But I know something you may desire to know, Mr. O’Farrel.” “Oi’m not sure av thot.” “I understand you are anxious to learn just who it was that threw you against the post and injured you?” “Pwhat av thot?” “Perhaps I can tell you.” An eager look came into the face of the man on the cot. “Av ye can do thot----” he began; then he stopped short, showing suspicion. “Pwhy should ye be afther doin’ such a thing?” he asked. “Is it not a studint ye said ye wur?” “Yes; but I might tell you what you want to know, just the same.” “Divil a bit ye will! Thim studints shtick by ache ither too well fer anything loike thot. It’s foolin’ me ye’re troying to do.” “You are hasty in your conclusions, sir,” said Frank, calmly. “I know that, as a rule, students stand by each other; but there are exceptions to every rule. Now it is possible that, for some very good reason, I may wish to divulge to you the name of the fellow who laid you up. It is possible that he is an enemy of mine, and I am taking this means to hurt him.” “Is thot it?” said O’Farrel, slowly, again keenly scrutinizing Frank’s face. “Oi’ll confiss Oi didn’t take ye fer thot sort av a chap at all, at all.” “You can’t always tell what a man will do by the looks of his face,” laughed Frank, flushing. “An’ ye want to blow on another studint?” “Well, I saw a part of your encounter with the students, and I know who it was that did you up. If you are going to make it hot for him, it is possible that I will tell what I know.”