always find another Irishman to turn the spit,' a statesman quoted
in the House of Commons a few nights ago."

"That must be why the same statesman puts them in prison for
standin' by each other, I suppose," said Burke, with a faint smile.

"You are now speaking of the curses of this country--the agitators.
They are the real cause of this deplorable misery. Who will put
money into a country that is ridden by these scoundrels? Rid Ireland
of agitators and you advance her prosperity a hundred years. They
are the clogs on the wheel of a nation's progress." He picked up a
copy of the local newspaper and read a headline from one of the
columns:

"I see you have agitators even here?"

"We have, sir."

"Drive them out of the town. Let the people live their own lives
without such disturbing elements in them. Tell them distinctly that
from the moment they begin to work for me I'll have no 'meetings' on
my property. Any of my tenants or workmen found attending them
elsewhere will be evicted and discharged."

"I'll tell them, sir."

"I mean to put that kind of lawlessness down with a firm hand."

"If ye DO ye'll be the first, Mr. Kingsnorth."