_T. J._ Sure, it’s the grand position you have entirely now, and every man and woman in the whole country-side scheming and scraping to give a few pennies to the collection for the statue, and the Lord-Lieutenant himself coming down for the unveiling--and it’s difficult it would be to find a man that was fine enough to marry you at all--but--but (_looking round_) don’t I know the very man for you? _Mrs. J._ And who might that be, for goodness sake? _T. J._ (_confidentially_). Come within now and I’ll tell you. I’d be fearful here that one of the lads would maybe hear me. (_They go into the house._) (_A man strolls along the road, looking about him with keen interest; he is wild and mysterious of aspect, with shaggy hair and travel-stained, untidy clothes. He stops with a start in front of the statue and gazes at it with amazement; then he slowly reads the inscription._) _Mr. J._ “Michael Flannigan Joner, who gave his life for his fellow-travellers.” (_In stupefaction._) Glory be to God! (_Turning to the house._) Bridget Ellen--are you within there? (_He turns and gazes at the statue again._) (_There is a sound of laughter in the house. Mrs. J. and Timothy J. come out, arm-in-arm and affectionate; they see the man and stop dead in the doorway._) _T. J._ Glory be to God! _Mrs. J._ The Saints preserve us! _T. J._ If it isn’t Michael Joner himself! _Mr. J._ It is so (_pointing indignantly_). And what call had you to make a graven image of him in the public street the like of the Kings of England or Parnell himself? _Mrs. J._ And what call had you to come back from the dead without a word of warning and I after promising myself to a better man? _Mr. J._ (_still full of statue_). “Gave his life for his fellow-trav----” And is it mad you all are? _Mrs. J._ Then you did not do so? (_To T. J._) Wasn’t I telling you? _Mr. J._ I did not indeed. And why would I--the low heathen--and I that had my fare paid to Tarshish? _Mrs. J._ and _T. J. raise their eyebrows at this suspicious utterance._ _Mrs. J._ Tarshish! Sure it’s drunk he is!... Then how came you lepping into the water like a young dog or a boy that does be diving in the hot weather, and you with---- _Mr. J._ It was not lepping I was nor diving neither, but it’s thrown in I was by a lot of heathen sailors because I was after prophesying the wrath of the Lord upon them---- _Mrs. J._ Didn’t I tell you now that no good would come of the prophesying, and you that was brought up a decent lad by your own father in Kilbay? _T. J._ And what happened to you when you were thrown in at all? _Mr. J._ Sure, I was swallowed by a great whale, and the Lord said to the whale---- _T. J._ Holy Mother! It’s mad he is and not drunk at all! _Mr. J._ It is not mad I am nor drunk either. Wasn’t I three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, and the sea roaring without, the same as a man would lie in his warm bed and it raining----