PAUL. You could probably swear me clean out of court, Dan; but you can’t swear your way through an engagement-ring. DAN [_loudly_]. Flames to the traitor! [_Goes in and bangs the door._] DEEGAN. Paul Twyning, be careful. A ring? PAUL. A ring, your honour. He put it on her finger and kissed her before I could run out and stop him. DEEGAN. Are you prepared to swear to that? PAUL. I couldn’t do otherwise, your honour, and keep the conscience right. DEEGAN [_drops into the chair_]. Then Denis M’Gothigan has got a case against me at last! PAUL. I’ll leave you alone now with your grief, master. I’m glad I’d the courage to do my duty. DEEGAN. Thank you. PAUL [_knocks at room door_]. May I come in, Dan? DAN [_inside_]. Flames to the traitor! _PAUL goes in._ DEEGAN [_stands up_]. This has decided me. If Daisy Mullan can give me proof of her financial position, I’ll make the match before I sleep.... _DAISY MULLAN comes in back. She is an oldish, noisy, over-dressed person, with horn-rimmed glasses, much cheap jewellery, and a conspicuous vanity-bag._ DAISY. Ogee, Mr. Deegan, what do you blamed well think? I let you come away without getting your advice on several business propositions. First thing, I wanna ask you about the Irish banking system. Is the Irish banks safe, Mr. Deegan? DEEGAN. Our leading banks are perfectly safe. DAISY. And you think they’d give a gel a square deal if she was having her money crossed over from the States to this country, do you, Mr. Deegan? DEEGAN. Not the least doubt of it. DAISY. Then I’d wanna know the best gamut for collecting my rents and having ’em remitted, in case I should buy me a shack and settle down around here for a spell. Whatcha know about that, Mr. Deegan? DEEGAN. That could easily be arranged later. DAISY. Say, Mr. Deegan, you’ve sure taken a mighty weight off my shoulders. But ain’t it too blamed bad, my racing after you like this and blistering you with my troubles, ain’t it? DEEGAN. No trouble, Miss Mullan, where you are concerned. DAISY. By gosh, ain’t that just lovely! Say, Mr. Deegan, I guess it ain’t the first time you’ve jollied a gel, sure not. [_Throws her eye round the house._] So this is your noo house, is it? And a blamed swell building to look at, you bet. Large, airy, and commodious. Health to enjoy it, my friend. DEEGAN. Thank you kindly. It’s still in a raw state, or I would take you through it. The plasterer is still working in the room.... DAISY. Oh, that Dublin feller, eh? He’s a good mechanic, ain’t he? M’auntie’s going to have him plaster a bedroom. DEEGAN. Paul Twyning may have other faults, but he’s a good tradesman. DAISY. Hits the liquor, do he?