three geese that you thought had been ate by the fox the day
after you'd finished fattening them, sir; and all the time you
were like a bit of her own flesh and blood to her. Often has she
said she'd live to see you a good Catholic yet, leading
victorious armies against the English and wearing the collar of
gold that Malachi won from the proud invader. Oh, she's the
romantic woman is my mother, and no mistake.

SIR PEARCE [in great perturbation]. I really can't believe this,
O'Flaherty. I could have sworn your mother was as honest a woman
as ever breathed.

O'FLAHERTY. And so she is, sir. She's as honest as the day.

SIR PEARCE. Do you call it honest to steal my geese?

O'FLAHERTY. She didn't steal them, sir. It was me that stole
them.

SIR PEARCE. Oh! And why the devil did you steal them?

O'FLAHERTY. Sure we needed them, sir. Often and often we had to
sell our own geese to pay you the rent to satisfy your needs; and
why shouldn't we sell your geese to satisfy ours?

SIR PEARCE. Well, damn me!

O'FLAHERTY [sweetly]. Sure you had to get what you could out of
us; and we had to get what we could out of you. God forgive us
both!