PAUL [_despondently_]. Well, I’ve been called the proudest man in all Dublin, but I’m going now to be the meanest clod in all Ireland. I won’t waste words. Daisy Mullan is a retired cook, and an adventuress. _Uproar._ DEEGAN. Silence! Go on, Paul. You astonish me. PAUL. She has that six hundred pounds safe and sound, but not another brown penny in the world. DEEGAN [_in triumph_]. O’Hagan, was I right or wrong? O’HAGAN. Right, right.... Wonderful ... man. DEEGAN. Paul Twyning, how did you discover this, my friend? PAUL. I was talking to her for a quarter of an hour before you come in, and I sent her upstairs lest she give us the slip altogether.... _DAN DEEGAN jumps out of the cupboard._ DAN. I’m in flames, but Paul Twyning’s a just man! I was hid in there the whole time him and Daisy was talking, and heard every word they said. She told him she was cook for a retired broker and got all her property--draft and all--in the trash-basket. PAUL [_piously_]. See that, now! It always pays to do the straight thing.... Who ever’d have thought of Dan being in there all the time! DEEGAN. Come forward, Daniel. DAN. Yes, fader. DEEGAN. Swear to the truth of that statement with uplifted hand. DAN [_with hand up_]. Afore you and God, fader, I’m telling the truth, amen.... She said you grabbed her people’s bit of land, and she come back to get revenge. O’HAGAN. That’s the solution now.... She’d the cablegram and all cooked for the purpose.... Paul Twyning, I’m ashamed to look in your honest face.... I hope you can forgive us all. PAUL. To err is human; to forgive, divine. I freely forgive you all. _They murmur thanks, and PATRICK shakes hands with PAUL._ DAN. Is that all you want with me, fader? DEEGAN. That’s all at present. For once in your life you have done me a small service. DAN. Well, I’m going to hide in here again. _DENIS M’GOTHIGAN comes in fuming._ DENIS. Now I want no colyfoxin’! My daughter’s in this house somewhere, and I mean to find her.... [_To DAN_] Where’s my Rose? DAN. The Lord knows that, Denis, amen.... I hain’t seen her this six weeks. _ROSE comes from the cupboard crying._ PAUL. Now, Dan! Let the whole world see whether you’re good enough to tie Rose M’Gothigan’s shoestrings. That blackthorn in your hand is not solely for ornamentation. DAN [_rushes beside ROSE and draws the blackthorn_]. I’m in flames, but I’ll defend my own Rose to the death! I’ll have to fight the Blacks and Red Indians in Philadelphy, and I may as well practise a bit at home.... Now, Denis, I daar you! PAUL [_with a loud laugh_]. Emancipated! Behold Dan Deegan emancipated! DENIS. I’ll not leave this house till Rose comes home ... and I’ll give her a wiggin’ when she comes.... [_Sits down._] DEEGAN. Paul Twyning, will you give Mr. O’Hagan and me a word in private?