TOURNOUR
I dunno.  I’m going away now, if your honour has nothing
more to say to me. (He turns to go)

MUSKERRY
You shall not.  You shall not, I say.

TOURNOUR
What?

MUSKERRY
You shall not go away until you’ve apologised to me.

TOURNOUR
Don’t be talking, Thomas Muskerry.  You’re not Master over me.

MUSKERRY
Not the Master over you?

TOURNOUR
No.  There’s an end to your sway, Mr. Muskerry.

MUSKERRY Go out of the house.  No, stay here.  You think I’m out of the Workhouse.  No.  That’s not so.  I’ve claims, great claims, on it still.  Not for nothing was I there for thirty years, the pattern for the officials of Ireland.

TOURNOUR
Twenty-nine years, I’m telling you.

MUSKERRY
The Guardians will take account of me.

TOURNOUR
And maybe they would, too.

MUSKERRY
What’s that you’re saying?

TOURNOUR
The Guardians might take an account of Thomas Muskerry in a
way he mightn’t like. (He goes to door)

MUSKERRY
Come back here, Felix Tournour.

TOURNOUR
I’m not your sub-servant.

MUSKERRY
Stand here before me.

TOURNOUR
You and your before me!  Your back to heaven and your belly
to hell.

MUSKERRY
Go away.  Go away out of this.

TOURNOUR
Don’t try to down-face me.  I know something about you.

MUSKERRY
About me!

TOURNOUR Aye, you and your fifty tons of coal. (Muskerry goes back from him) Great claims on the Workhouse have you.  The Guardians will take account of you.  Will they?  Talk to them about the fifty tons of coal.  Go and do that, my pattern of the officials of Ireland!

  Tournour goes out by shop.  Muskerry stands with his hands on the
  arm chair.

MUSKERRY This minute I’ll go down to the Guardians and make my complaint. (He notices his appearance) I’m going about all day with my boots unlaced.  I’m falling into bad ways, bad, slovenly ways.  And my coat needs brushing, too. (He takes off his coat and goes to window and brushes it) That’s Myles Gorman going back to the Workhouse.  I couldn’t walk with my head held as high as that.  In this house I am losing my uprightness.  I’ll do more than lace my boots and brush my coat.  I’ll go down to the Guardians and I’ll pay them back their fifty pounds.

  Anna Crilly comes in from left with a bowl of soup.

ANNA
Here’s your soup, grandpapa.

MUSKERRY
I can’t take it now, Anna. (He puts on his coat)

ANNA
Are you going out, grandpapa?

MUSKERRY
I’m going before the meeting of the Board of Guardians.

ANNA
Are you, grandpapa?

MUSKERRY
Yes, Anna, I am.  I’m going to pay them back their fifty
pounds.