`Did you call on Grimes?'

`I did.'

`Well? How does he stand?'

`He wouldn't promise. He said: "I won't tell anyone what way I'm going to vote." But I think he'll be all right.'

`Why so?'

`He asked me who the nominators were; and I told him, I mentioned Father Burke's name. I think it'll be all right.'

Mr Henchy began to snuffle and to rub his hands over the fire at a terrific speed. Then he said:

`For the love of God, Jack, bring us a bit of coal. There must be some left.'

The old man went out of the room.

`It's no go,' said Mr Henchy, shaking his head. `I asked the little shoeboy, but he said: "O, now, Mr Henchy, when I see the work going on properly I won't forget you, you may be sure." Mean little tinker! 'Usha, how could he be anything else?'

`What did I tell you, Mat?' said Mr Hynes. `Tricky Dicky Tierney.'

`O, he's as tricky as they make `em,' said Mr Henchy. `He hasn't got those little pig's eyes for nothing. Blast his soul! Couldn't he pay up like a man instead of: "O, now Mr Henchy, I must speak to Mr Fanning... I've spent a lot of money." Mean little schoolboy of hell! I suppose he forgets the time his little old father kept the hand-me-down shop in Mary's Lane.'

`But is that a fact?' asked Mr O'Connor.

`God, yes,' said Mr Henchy. `Did you never hear that? And the men used to go in on Sunday morning before the houses were open to buy a waistcoat or a trousers — moya! But Tricky Dicky's little old father always had a tricky little black bottle up in a corner. Do you mind now? That's that. That's where he first saw the light.'

The old man returned with a few lumps of coal which he placed here and there on the fire.

`That's a nice how-do-you-do,' said Mr O'Connor. `How does he expect us to work for him if he won't stump up?'

`I can't help it,' said Mr Henchy. `I expect to find the bailiffs in the hall when I go home.'