CHRISTY (going through papers idly) “I am much obliged for your favour—­”

MUSKERRY
That’s not it.

CHRISTY (reading another letter) “I am about to add to the obligations under which I stand to you, by recommending to your notice my grandson, Albert Crilly—­”

MUSKERRY That’s the letter.  It’s the last of its kind.  Bring it to me. (Christy Clarke brings over the letter) There comes a turn in the blood and a turn in the mind, Christy.  This while back I’ve been going out to the country instead of into the town, and coming back here in the evenings I’ve seen the workhouse with the big wall around it, and the big gate going into it, and I’ve said to myself that Thomas Muskerry ought to be as secure and contented here as if he was in his own castle.

CHRISTY
And so you ought, Mister Muskerry.

MUSKERRY Look round at the office, Christy.  I’ve made it as fit for me as the nest for the wren.  I’ll spend a few more years here, and then I’ll go out on pension.  I won’t live in the town, I’ve seen a place in the country I’d like, and the people will be leaving it in a year or two.

CHRISTY
Where is it, Mister Muskerry?

MUSKERRY
I’ll say no more about it now, but it’s not far from this,
and its near the place, where I was reared.

CHRISTY
And so you’ll go back to your own place?

MUSKERRY
As Oliver Goldsmith my fellow county man, and I might
almost say, my fellow parishioner, says—­What’s this the lines are
about the hare, Christy?

CHRISTY
“And like the Hare whom Hounds and Horns pursue Pants to the
place from whence at first he flew.”

MUSKERRY
Aye.  “And like the Hare whom Hounds and Horns pursue”—­
(The clock strikes nine)

CHRISTY
You weren’t on the rounds yet?

MUSKERRY (startled) Would you believe it, now, it was nearly passing my mind to go on the rounds? (He rises, putting the letter in his pocket) Where’s that fellow, Albert Crilly?  He was to have been in here to give me a hand with the abstracts.  Christy Clarke, go down to Miss Coghlan’s and get me two novelettes.  Bring me up two nice love stories, and be here when I come back.

Christy Clarke takes his cap off rack and goes out.  Thomas Muskerry puts on his scarf, goes to the rack and takes down the bunch of keys.  As he is going out Felix Tournour enters with a bucket of coal.  He carries it over to the stove.

MUSKERRY
Now, Tournour, sweep up this place.

  Thomas Muskerry goes out by corridor door.  Felix Tournour takes
  brush from under desk, left, and begins to sweep in the direction of
  corridor door.

TOURNOUR Sweeping, sweeping!  I’ll run out of the house some day on account of the work I’ve to do for Master Thomas Muskerry. (He leans on his brush in front of stove) I know why you’re going for walks in the country, my oul’ cod.  There’s them in town that you’ve got enough of.  You don’t want to go bail for Madam Daughter, nor for Count Crofton Crilly, your son-in-law, nor for the Masters and Mistresses; all right, my oul’ cod-fish.  That I may see them laying you out on the flags of Hell. (He puts the brush standing upright, and speaks to it):