My advice, sir,
my friendship, and my purse, are always at their service. My advice to
guide them--my friendship to sustain--and my purse--hem!--ha, ha, ha--I
think. I may clap a payriod or full stop there," he added, laughing,
"inasmuch as the last approaches very near to what philosophers term a
vacuum or nonentity. Gintlemen," he proceeded, addressing the scholars,
"I am going over to Lanty Hanratty's for a while to enjoy a social cup
wid Mr. Burke here, and as that fact will cause the existence of a short
interegnum, I now publicly appoint Gusty Carney as my _locum tenens_
until I resume the reins of government on my return. Gusty, put the
names of all offenders down on a slate, and when I return 'condign'
is the word; an' see, Gusty--mairk me well--no bribery--no bread
nor buttons, nor any other materials of corruption from the
culprits--otherwise you shall become their substitute in the
castigation, and I shall teach you to look one way and feel another, my
worthy con-disciple."
"Now, Finigan--I beg your pardon--O'Finigan," said Hycy, when they were
seated in the little back tap-room of the public-house with refreshments
before them, "I think I have reason to be seriously displeased with
you."
"Displeased with me!" exclaimed his companion; "and may I take the
liberty to interrogate wherefore, Mr.
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