“Young Nelligan was one. Indeed, it was through him I was asked myself. Colonel Massingbred was good enough to come over and have a look at my Moses,--a favor I humbly hope you 'll do me, gentlemen, any spare morning; for it's a new conception altogether, and I make the light come out of the bulrushes, just as Caravaggio did with his Lazarus.” “Never mind Lazarus, Crow, but tell us of this dinner. Who were the others?” “Well, sir, there was Nelligan and me,--that's one; and Tom Magennis,--two--” “Our neighbor of Barnagheela?” exclaimed Martin, in amazement. “The same, sir. I left him there at the port wine, and my word for it, but they 'll not get him away easily, though Father Rafferty will do his best--” “And was the priest also of the party?” “He was, sir; and sat at the Colonel's left, and was treated with every honor and distinction.” “Eh, Martin, am I a true prophet?--answer me that. Has Val Repton foretold the course of events we are entering upon, or has he not?” “But this is a regular outrage,--an open insult to us!” cried Martin. “Here is a leading member of the Government entertaining the very men who opposed and defeated us,--actually caressing the very party which they enlisted us to crush?” “This game is within every child's comprehension!” said Repton. “If _you_, and men of your stamp and fortune, could have secured them a parliamentary majority, they 'd have preferred you. You 'd be pleasanter to deal with, less exacting, more gentlemanly in fact; but as you failed to do this,--as it was plain and clear you had not the people with you,--why, they 've thrown you over without a scruple, and taken into their favor the men who can and will serve them. I don't mean to say that the bargain is a good one,--nay, I believe the price of such aid will be very costly; but what do they care? It is one of the blessings of a representative government that Tories have to pay Whig debts, and Whigs are heirs to Tory defalcations.” “Were politics discussed at table?” asked Martin, half impatiently. “All manner of subjects. We had law, and the assizes, and the grand-jury lists, and who ought to be high sheriffs, and who not. And young Massingbred made a kind of a speech--” “Was he there also?” “That he was; and did the honors of the foot of the table, and made it the pleasantest place too! The way he introduced a toast to the independent and enlightened electors of Oughterard was as neat a thing as ever I heard.” “The devil take the whole batch of them!” cried Martin. “To think that I 've spent nearly three thousand pounds for such a set of scoundrels is past endurance. I 'll never set foot amongst them again; as long as I live I 'll never enter that town.” “Father Neal's own words,” cried Crow. “'We done with Martin forever,' said he. 'This election was his Waterloo. He may abdicate now!'” “And that sentiment was listened to by the Chief Secretary?” exclaimed Martin.