_Rory_. Just as much. ’Twas all a mistake. So now don’t you go and make a mistake into a misunderstanding. It was I made every word of the song _out o’ the face_ {155}—that about the back that never was bent, and the ancestors of the oyster, and all. He did not waste a word of it; upon my conscience, I wrote it all—though I’ll engage you didn’t think I could write a good thing. (_Lord John turns away_.) I’m telling you the truth, and not a word of a lie, and yet you won’t believe me. _Lord J._ You will excuse me, sir, if I cannot believe two contradictory assertions within two minutes. Mr. Talbot, I thank you (_going_). (_Rory tries to stop Lord John from going_, _but cannot_.—_Exit Lord John_.) _Rory_. Well, if he _will_ go, let him go then, and much good may it do him. Nay, but don’t you go too. _Talb._ O Rory, what have you done?—(_Talbot runs after Lord J._) Hear me, my lord. (_Exit Talbot_.) _Rory_. Hear him! hear him! hear him!—Well, I’m point blank mad with myself for making this blunder; but how could I help it? As sure as ever I am meaning to do the best thing on earth, it turns out the worst. _Enter a party of lads_, _huzzaing_. _Rory_ (_joins_.) Huzza! huzza!—Who, pray, are ye huzzaing for? 1_st_ _Boy_. Wheeler! Wheeler for ever! huzza! _Rory_. Talbot! Talbot for ever! huzza! Captain Talbot for ever! huzza! 2_nd_ _Boy_. _Captain_ he’ll never be,—at least not to-morrow; for Lord John has just declared for Wheeler. 1_st_ _Boy_. And that turns the scale. _Rory_. Oh, the scale may turn back again. 3_rd_ _Boy_. Impossible! Lord John has just given his promise to Wheeler. I heard him with my own ears. (_Several speak at once_.) And I heard him; and I! and I! and I!—Huzza! Wheeler for ever! _Rory_. Oh, murder! murder! murder! (_Aside_.) This goes to my heart! it’s all my doing. O, my poor Talbot!—murder! murder! murder! But I won’t let them see me cast down, and it is good to be huzzaing at all events. Huzza for Talbot! Talbot for ever! huzza! (_Exit_.) _Enter_ WHEELER _and_ BURSAL. _Wheel._ Who was that huzzaing for Talbot? (_Rory behind the scenes_, “Huzza for Talbot! Talbot for ever! huzza!”) _Burs._ Pooh, it is only Rory O’Ryan, or the roaring lion as I call him. Ha! ha! ha! Rory O’Ryan, alias O’Ryan, the roaring lion; that’s a good one; put it about—Rory O’Ryan, the roaring lion, ha! ha! ha! but you don’t take it—you don’t laugh, Wheeler. _Wheeler_. Ha! ha! ha! O, upon my honour I do laugh; ha! ha! ha! (_Aside_). It is the hardest work to laugh at his wit. (_Aloud_.) Rory O’Ryan, the roaring lion—ha! ha! ha! You know I always laugh, Bursal, at your jokes—he! he! he!—ready to kill myself.