MAGISTRATE. You will find it better for you if you tell me at once.
BARTLEY. I tell you I wouldn't for the whole world wish to say what it was--it is a thing I would not like to be talking about.
MAGISTRATE. There is no use in hiding it. It will be discovered in the end.
BARTLEY. Well, I suppose it will, seeing that mostly everybody knows it before. Whisper here now. I will tell no lie; where would be the use? (_Puts his hand to his mouth and MAGISTRATE stoops._) Don't be putting the blame on the parish, for such a thing was never done in the parish before--it was done for the sake of Kitty Keary, Jack Smith's wife.
MAGISTRATE (_to_ POLICEMAN). Put on the handcuffs. We have been saved some trouble. I knew he would confess if taken in the right way.
BARTLEY. Handcuffs now! Glory be! I always said, if there was ever any misfortune coming to this place it was on myself it would fall. I to be in handcuffs! There's no wonder at all in that.
(_Enter MRS. FALLON, followed by the rest. She is looking back at them as she speaks._)
MRS. FALLON. Telling lies the whole of the people of this town are; telling lies, telling lies as fast as a dog will trot! Speaking against my poor respectable man! Saying he made an end of Jack Smith! My decent comrade! There is no better man and no kinder man in the whole of the five parishes! It's little annoyance he ever gave to anyone! (_Turns and sees him._) What in the earthly world do I see before me? Bartley Fallon in charge of the police! Handcuffs on him! O Bartley, Bartley, what did you do at all at all?
BAHTLEY. O Mary, there has a great misfortune come upon me! It is what I always said, that if there is ever any misfortune--
MRS. FALLON. What did he do at all, or is it bewitched I am?
MAGISTRATE. This man has been arrested on a charge of murder.
MRS. FALLON. Whose charge is that? Don't believe them! They are all liars in this place! Give me back my man!
MAGISTRATE. It is natural you should take his part, but you have no cause of complaint against your neighbors. He has been arrested for the murder of John Smith, on his own confession.
MRS. FALLON. The saints of heaven protect us! And what did he want killing Jack Smith?
MAGISTRATE. It is best you should know all. He did it on account of a love-affair with the murdered man's wife.