`No, no, thank you. It was just a little business matter, said Father Keon. `Thank you, indeed.'

He retreated from the doorway and Mr Henchy, seizing one of the candlesticks, went to the door to light him downstairs.

`O, don't trouble, I beg!'

`No, but the stairs is so dark.'

`No, no, I can see... Thank you, indeed.'

`Are you right now?'

`All right, thanks... Thanks.'

Mr Henchy returned with the candlestick and put it on the table. He sat down again at the fire. There was silence for a few moments.

`Tell me, John,'said Mr O'Connor, lighting his cigarette with another pasteboard card.

`Hm?'

`What is he exactly?'

`Ask me an easier one,' said Mr Henchy.

`Fanning and himself seem to me very thick. They're often in Kavanagh's together. Is he a priest at all?'

`Mmmyes, I believe so... I think he's what you call a black sheep. We haven't many of them, thank God! but we have a few... He's an unfortunate man of some kind... '

`And how does he knock it out?' asked Mr O'Connor.

`That's another mystery.'

`Is he attached to any chapel or church or institution or—'

`No,' said Mr Henchy, `I think he's travelling on his own account... God forgive me,' he added, `I thought he was the dozen of stout.'

`Is there any chance of a drink itself?' asked Mr O'Connor.

`I'm dry too,' said the old man.

`I asked that little shoeboy three times,' said Mr Henchy, would he send up a dozen of stout. I asked him again now, but he was leaning on the counter in his shirt-sleeves having a deep goster with Alderman Cowley.

`Why didn't you remind him?' said Mr O'Connor.

`Well, I wouldn't go over while he was talking to Alderman Cowley. I just waited till I caught his eye, and said: "About that little matter I was speaking to you about... " "That'll be all right, Mr H.," he said. Yerra, sure the little hop-o'-my-thumb has forgotten all about it.'