It was often observed, however, that in such conversations
he occasionally arranged the matter of those who could use only English
to him, in such a way as proved pretty clearly that he must have
possessed a greater mastery over that language than he acknowledged. We
believe the fact to be, however, that Teddy, as an illicit distiller,
had found it, on some peculiar occasions connected with his profession,
rather an inconvenient accomplishment to know English. He had given some
evidence in his day, and proved, or attempted to prove, a few alibies on
behalf of his friends; and he always found, as there is good reason to
believe, that the Irish language, when properly enunciated through the
medium of an interpreter, was rather the safer of the two, especially
when resorted to within the precincts of the country court-house and in
hearing of the judge.
"You're a fool, Teddy," said Hogan; "let them drink themselves;
blind--this liquor's paid for; an' if they lose or spill it by the 'way,
why, blazes to your purty mug, don't you know they'll have to pay for
another cargo."
Teddy immediately took the hint.
"Barney Brogan," he shouted to a lubberly-looking, bullet-headed cub,
half knave, half fool, who lived about such establishments, and acted
as messenger, spy, and vidette; "listen hedher! bring Darby Keenan dere
dat bottle, an' let 'em drink till de grace o' God comes on 'em--ha, ha,
ha!"
"More power to you, Vaynus," exclaimed Keenan; "you're worth a thousand
pounds, quarry weight.
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