"Oh! there was a great gunmaker lost in you, Andy," said Dick, as he screwed on the locks, which he had regulated to his mind, and began to examine the various departments of the pistol-case, to see that it was properly provided. He took the instrument to cut some circles of thin leather, and Andy again asked him for the name o' _that_ thing?
"So there is the punch as well as the tumbler, sir."
"Ay, and very strong punch it is, you see, Andy;" and Dick, struck it with his little mahogany mallet, and cut his patches of leather.
"And what's that for, sir?--the leather I mane."
"Is it for fear 't would hurt him too much when you shot him."
"You're a queer customer, Andy," said Dick, smiling.
"And what weeshee little balls thim is, sir."
"They are always small for duelling-pistols."
"Oh, then _thim_ is jewellin' pistles. Why, musha, Misther Dick, is it goin' to fight a jule you are?" said Andy, looking at him with earnestness.
"No, Andy, but the master is; but don't say a word about it."
"Not a word for the world. The masther's goin' to fight! God send him safe out iv it! amin. And who is he going to fight, Misther Dick?"
"Oh, won't the masther disgrace himself by fightin' the 'torney?"
"How dare you say such a thing of your master?"
"I ax your pard'n, Misther Dick: but sure you know what I mane. I hope he'll shoot him."
"Why, Andy, Murtough was always very good to you, and now you wish him to be shot."
"Sure, why wouldn't I rather have him kilt more than the masther?"
"Misther Dick," said Andy, lowering his voice, "wouldn't it be an iligant thing to put two balls into the pistle instead o' one, and give the masther a chance over the 'torney?"
"Arrah! why shouldn't the masther have a chance over him!--sure he has childre, and 'Torney Murphy has none."
"At any rate, Andy, I suppose you'd give the masther a ball additional for every child he has, and that would make eight. So you might as well give him a blunderbuss and slugs at once."
Dick loaded the pistol-case, having made all right, and desired Andy to mount a horse, carry it by a back road out of the demesne, and wait at a certain gate he named until he should be joined there by himself and the squire, who proceeded at the appointed time to the ground.