'Yes, I did say so; but it is not original, because it is what Charles II. said to James II.' This historic reference, which elicited laughter in Court, did not seem intelligible to my questioner, but some better informed person probably soon quoted it to him:-- 'Depend on it, brother James, they will never shoot me to make you king.' From the kid-glove amenities of Mr. Davitt to the aggressive harshness of Mr. Biggar was a sharp contrast. He heckled me vigorously, and I retorted to him pretty hotly. A great deal had been expected of this cross-examination, but the general opinion was that I gave rather better than I received. Coolness is the despair of cross-examiners, and I think mine made more impression on the Court than the impulsiveness of a dozen inaccurate Nationalists. Mr. Biggar asked:-- 'You said you were popular in the district up to 1880?' I retorted with emphasis:-- 'I never had a serious threat until you mentioned my name in Castleisland, and then people told me, 'Get police protection at once, or you will be shot!' That made the Court laugh. Mr. Biggar did not appreciate the humour. He returned to the charge viciously:-- 'Did not some of your sympathisers light a bonfire in 1878 at Castleisland on account of the triumphs of your buying the Harenc estate? and did not the population of Castleisland, who knew your character, scatter that bonfire, and put it out?' 'I heard they had a row over it. There were nine bonfires lighted in Kerry after I succeeded. I was fairly popular until you held up my name as a subject for murder in Castleisland. You said Hussey might be a very bad man, but you would take care of one thing--that if any person was charged with shooting him, or any other agent, they would be defended, which meant they would be paid.' Mr. Biggar did not appear to relish the line he was on, and shunted to another topic; but he could not shake my view that the rents of 1880 were, on the average, twenty-five per cent. lower than in 1840. 'You bought the Harenc estate over the heads of the tenants?' 'No, I did not.' 'You spoke about an address which you received from the tenants when you were a candidate for Tralee?' 'Yes.' Then, with the snarl of a wild beast, Mr. Biggar blurted out:-- 'Have you any idea whether this was got up by the bailiffs on your property?' 'I am quite certain it was not, because I had no bailiffs on the property. I gave an immense deal of employment, and I believe that had something to do with it.' Mr. Biggar presently sat down, having made less of me than he and his friends hoped. On re-examination, the Attorney-General observed:-- 'You say one of the bonfires, lighted when you succeeded, was put out. I suppose the Irish people are not very averse to a row at times?' 'Oh no.' 'And bonfires do produce rows at times?' 'Certainly.' 'Your popularity did not depend on one bonfire?' 'No.'