“The question, your honor,” the lawyer added, turning to the judge, “is, what _is_ habitual drunkenness? I should like to ask the defendant a query or two. Now, Mr. O’Ryan, how often do you indulge yourself in a social glass?” “Sor?” “How often do you drink?” “Whenever I can get it, sor.” The audience appreciated this frankness, and were silenced by a threatening foray of the cravatless officer. “You mean,” suggested the attorney, smoothly, “that you take a drink of beer, now and then, when you are at work.” “I mane that, sor. A horse couldn’t do widout it.” “Very good. But you deny that you are habitually intoxicated?” “Sor?” “You are not in the habit of getting drunk?” “No, sor!” “Very good. You are not in the habit of getting drunk.” “I never get dhrunk whin I’m at work sor. I get dhrunk Saturday nights.” “Yes; when you have had a hard week’s work. I understand that”-- “I have a hard wake’s worruk every wake!” interrupted the defendant. “But this is a thing that has grown upon you of late, as I understand. You were formerly a sober, temperate man, as your habits of industry imply.” “Sor?” “You have lately given way to a fondness for liquor, but up to within six months or a year ago you never drank to excess.” “No, sor! I’ve dhrunk ever since I was born, and I’ll dhrink till I die.” The officer could not keep us quiet, now. The counsel looked down at his table in a futile way, and then took his seat after some rambling observations, amid smiles of ironical congratulation from the other gentlemen of the bar. The defendant confronted the judge with the calm face of a man who has established his innocence beyond cavil. “What is the reputation of this man in his neighborhood?” inquired the judge of the policeman. “He’s an ugly fellow. And his wife is full as bad. They generally get drunk together.” “Any children?” “No, sir.” The defendant regarded the judge with heightened satisfaction in this confirmation of his own declaration. The judge leaned over, and said in a confidential way to the clerk, “Give him six months in the House of Correction.”