"Now, Barney," said Harry, after they had examined it, "out with the
brandy and water and the slices of ham, till we refresh ourselves in the
first place, and after that I will hear your history of this magnificent
mansion."
"O, it isn't the mansion, sir," he replied, "but the woman that lived in
it that I have to spake about. God guard us! There in that corner is the
very broomstick she used to ride through the air upon!"
"Never mind that now, but ransack that immense shooting-pocket, and
produce its contents."
They accordingly sat down, each upon one of the stools, and helped
themselves to bread and ham, together with some tolerably copious
draughts of brandy and water which they had mixed before leaving
home. Woodward, perceiving Barney's anxiety to deliver himself of his
narrative, made him take an additional draught by way of encouragement
to proceed, which, having very willingly finished the bumper offered
him, he did as follows:
"Well, Masther Harry, in the first place, do you believe in the Bible?"
"In the Bible!--ahem--why--yes--certainly, Barney; do you suppose I'm
not a Christian?"
"God forbid," replied Barney; "well, the Bible itself isn't thruer than
what I'm goin' to tell you--sure all the world for ten miles round knows
it.
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