_Nestor:_ It is likely you would know a man of that sort if you did see him, Sibby Fahy. It is likely you never saw a man yet that owns riches would buy up the half of this town. _Sibby:_ It is not always them that has the most that makes the most show. But it is likely he will have a good dark suit anyway, and shining boots, and a gold chain hanging over his chest. _Nestor:_ (_Sarcastically._) He will, and gold rings and pins the same as the King of France or of Spain. (_Enter Cooney, hatless, streaked with soot and lime, speechless but triumphant. He holds up a nest with nestlings._) _Nestor:_ What has happened you, Mr. Cooney, at all? _Cooney:_ Look now, what I have got! _Nestor:_ A nest, is it? _Cooney:_ Three young ones in it! _Nestor:_ (_Faintly._) Is it what you are going to say they are jackdaws! _Cooney:_ I followed your directions.... _Nestor:_ How do you make that out? _Caoney:_ You said the mill chimneys were full of them.... _Nestor:_ What has that to do with it? _Cooney:_ I left my rake after me broken in the loft ... my hat went away in the millrace ... I tore my coat on the stones ... there has mortar got into my eye.... _Nestor:_ The Lord bless and save us! _Cooney:_ But there is no man can say I did not bring back the birds, sound and living and in good health. Look now, the open mouths of them! (_All gather round_.) Three of them safe and living.... I lost one climbing the wall. ... Where now is the man is going to buy them? _Sibby:_ (_Pointing at Nestor._) It is he that can tell you that. _Cooney:_ Make no delay bringing me to him. I’m in dread they might die on me first. _Nestor:_ You should know well that no one is buying them. _Sibby:_ No one! Sure it was you yourself told us that there was! _Nestor:_ If I did itself there is no such a man. _Sibby:_ It’s not above two minutes he was telling of the rings and the pins he wore. _Nestor:_ He never was in it at all. _Cooney:_ What plan is he making up now to defraud me and to rob me? _Sibby:_ Question him yourself, and you will see what will he say. _Cooney:_ How can I ask questions of a man that is telling lies? _Nestor:_ I am telling no lies. I am well able to answer you and to tell you the truth. _Cooney:_ Tell me where is the man that will give me cash for these birds, the same as he gave it to the woman of this house? _Sibby:_ That’s it, that is it. Let him tell it out now. _Cooney:_ Will you have me ask it as often as the hairs of my head? If I get vexed I will make you answer me. _Nestor:_ It seems to me to have set fire to a rick, but I am well able to quench it after. There is no man in South Africa, or that came from South Africa, or that ever owned a mine there at all. Where is the man bought the bird, are you asking? There he is standing among us on this floor. (_Points to Cooney._) That is himself, the very man! _Cooney:_ (_Advancing a step._) What is that you are saying? _Nestor:_ I say that no one came in here but yourself.