“Then I’m sure these illuminations of his for the peace are none of the most sincere,” said O’Mooney. The mob were of his opinion; and Phelim, who was now, alas! worked up to the proper pitch for blundering, added, by way of pleasing his audience still more--“If this contractor had _illuminated_ in character, it should have been with _dark lanterns_.” “Should it? by Jasus! that would be an Irish illumination,” cried some one. “Arrah, honey! you’re an Irishman, whoever you are, and have spoke your mind in character.” Sir John Bull was vexed that the piece of wit which he had aimed at the contractor had recoiled upon himself. “It is always, as my countryman observed, by having too much wit that I blunder. The deuce take me if I sport a single bon mot more this night. This is only my seventh detection, I have an eighth blunder still _to the good_; and if I can but keep my wit to myself till I am out of purgatory, then I shall be in heaven, and may sing Io Triumphe in spite of my brother.” Fortunately, Phelim had not made it any part of his bet that he should not speak to himself an Irish idiom, or that he should not _think_ a bull. Resolved to be as obstinately silent as a monk of La Trappe, he once more shut himself up in his cell, and fell fast asleep--dreamed that fat bulls of Basan encompassed him round about--that he ran down a steep bill to escape them--that his foot slipped--he rolled to the bottom--felt the bull’s horns in his side--heard the bull bellowing in his--ears--wakened--and found Terence M’Dermod bellowing at his room door. “Sir John Bull! Sir John Bull! murder! murder! my dear master, Sir John Bull! murder, robbery, and reward! let me in! for the love of the Holy Virgin! they are all after you!” “Who? are you drunk, Terence?” said Sir John, opening the door. “No, but they are mad--all mad.” “Who?” “The constable. They are all mad entirely, and the lord mayor, all along with your honour’s making me swear I would not tell your name. Sure they are all coming armed in a body to put you in jail for a forgery, unless I run back and tell them the truth--will I?” “First tell me the truth, blunderer!”