"You can have the house without paying any rent at all; but there is a ghost in it, and I wouldn't like you to go to live in it without my telling you, but I couldn't part with the land without getting a hundred pounds more than you have to offer me."
"Perhaps I have as much as you have yourself," said Paddy. "I'll be here to-morrow with the money, if you're ready to give me possession."
Paddy went home and told his wife that he had bought a large house and a holding of land.
"Where did you get the money?" says the wife.
"Isn't it all one to you where I got it?" says Paddy.
The day on the morrow Paddy went to the gentleman, gave him the money, and got possession of the house and land; and the gentleman left him the furniture and everything that was in the house, into the bargain.
Paddy remained in the house that night, and when darkness came he went down to the cellar, and he saw a little man with his two legs spread on a barrel.
"God save you, honest man," says he to Paddy.
"Don't be afraid of me, at all," says the little man. "I'll be a friend to you, if you are able to keep a secret."
"I am able, indeed; I kept your mother's secret, and I'll keep yours as well."
"Maybe you're thirsty?" said the little man.
The little man put a hand in his bosom and drew out a gold goblet. He gave it to Paddy, and said: "Draw wine out of that barrel under me."
Paddy drew the full up of the goblet, and handed it to the little man.
Paddy drank, drew another goblet, and handed it to the little man, and he drank it.
"Fill up and drink again," said the little man. "I have a mind to be merry to-night."
The pair of them sat there drinking until they were half drunk. Then the little man gave a leap down to the floor, and said to Paddy:
"I do, surely," said Paddy, "and I'm a good dancer, too."
"Lift up the big flag over there in the corner, and you'll get my pipes under it."
Paddy lifted the flag, got the pipes, and gave them to the little man. He squeezed the pipes on him, and began playing melodious music. Paddy began dancing till he was tired. Then they had another drink, and the little man said:
"Do as my mother told you, and I'll show you great riches. You can bring your wife in here, but don't tell her that I'm there, and she won't see me. Any time at all that ale or wine are wanting, come here and draw. Farewell, now; go to sleep, and come again to me to-morrow night."