"
"Ay," said the schoolmaster, "upon the principle that _in vino veritas_;
but you know that _gravatus vino_ and _ebrius_ are two different
things--_gravatus vino_, the juice o' the grape--och, och, as every one
knows, could and stupid; but _ebrius_ from blessed poteen, that warms
and gives ecstatic nutrition to the heart."
The altercation proceeded for a little, but, after a short remonstrance
and bustle, the priest, followed by O'Finigan, entered the room.
"Gentlemen," said the priest, "I trust you will excuse me for the
society in which I happen to appear before you; but the truth is that
this Finigan--"
"Pardon me, your Reverence, O'Finigan if you plaise; we have been shorn
of--"
"Well, then, since he will have it so, this O'Finigan is really
inebriated, and I cannot exactly say why, in this state, his presence
can be of any advantage to us."
"He says," replied the master, "that I am _ebrius_, whereas I replied
that I was only _vino gravatus_, by which I only meant _quasi vino
gravatus_; but the truth is, gentlemen, that I'm never properly sober
until I'm half seas over--for it is then that I have all my wits
properly about me."
"In fact, gentleman," proceeded the priest, "in consequence of certain
disclosures that have reached me with reference to these Hogans, I
deemed it my duty to bring Nanny Peety before Mr.
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