Thus rebuffed by the anti-musical doctor, Philip sought refuge in the society of the company below stairs from the persecution of those above. He sate silent and dull, but as this was nothing extraordinary on his part, nobody concerned themselves about him. Mr. De Lancaster asked Captain Wilson in what province of Ireland his regiment was quartered, and upon being answered that it was in Munster, he gravely observed, that he would then be upon the spot, where, if so disposed, he might enquire into the truth of the extraordinary properties recorded by Giraldus Cambrensis of a certain island in the aforesaid province which, if related by any other than a historian of his established character for veracity and research, might have staggered all credulity. Upon Henry’s desiring to be informed what those properties were--he replied, I premised that they were extraordinary, and I own to you they require confirmation, for Giraldus deliberately tells us, that there is an island in that province, known in his time, and in fact from the time of Saint Patrick, into which no woman, nor any female creature living, could enter. Well done, Giraldus! cried the colonel, that is an interesting discovery for married men. A blessed one--said Philip in an under voice. I hardly think I shall be able to find it, said the captain, and if I do, I don’t believe I shall chuse it for my head quarters. It is fitter for a hermitage or a monkish convent, Edward observed. Hold, cried De Lancaster, I have Giraldus on the table, and here he tells us of an island, where no woman can be delivered of a child. Pooh! said the colonel, he is an old woman himself, and can be delivered of nothing but lies. Hold, resumed the expounder of Giraldus; here is another island, which is partly inhabited by good, and partly by evil spirits. All islands are alike for that, said the colonel. Have a little patience; we have not done yet with Giraldus’s islands, for here is one, where dead bodies cannot putrefy; and look! here is another, that outgoes all the others, where nobody can ever die--Mark his words--_Nemo unquam moritur, unquam mortuus fuit, vel morte naturali mori potuit_. Excellent Giraldus! exclaimed the colonel; if he does but make out his immortal island to be that which women cannot enter, the grand desideratum is obtained. He does not say that, replied De Lancaster. Then he had better have said nothing about it, Philip cried out from his corner, for fear our wives should find it out.