Muskerry comes back to the ward.  He stands looking stupidly at the heap Tournour has thrown out.  Tournour throws down the book.  Muskerry goes towards the open door of the ward.  Felix Tournour closes the door deliberately turns the key and holds the key in his hand.

TOURNOUR
You have no more to do with your snug little ward, Mr.
Muskerry. (He puts the key on his bunch and goes out)

MUSKERRY (muttering with slack lips and cheeks) It’s—­it’s—­the pau—­pauper’s bed they’ve given me.

GORMAN
(turning round his face) Who’s there?

MUSKERRY
It’s—­it’s—­Thomas Muskerry.

GORMAN
Is that the Master?

MUSKERRY
It’s—­it’s the pauper’s bed they’ve given me.

GORMAN
Can I give you any hand, Master?

MUSKERRY I’ll want to make—­the bed.  Give me a hand to make the bed. (Gorman comes over to him) My own sheet and blanket is here.  I needn’t lie on a pauper’s sheet.  Whose bed is this?

GORMAN
It’s the middle bed, Master.  It’s my own bed.

MUSKERRY
(helplessly) What bed will I take, then?

GORMAN
My bed.  I won’t be here.

MUSKERRY
And where are you going?

GORMAN
I’m leaving the house this day.  I’ll be going on the roads.

MUSKERRY Myles—­Myles Gorman.  The man that was without family or friends.  Myles Gorman.  Help me to lay down the mattress.  Where will you sleep to-night, Myles Gorman?

GORMAN At Mrs. Muirnan’s, a house between this and the town of Ballinagh.  I haven’t the money to pay, but she’ll give me the place for to-night.  Now, Master, I’ll spread the sheet for you. (They spread the sheet on the bed.)

MUSKERRY
Can you go down the stairs, Myles Gorman?  I tried to get
down the stairs and my legs failed me.

GORMAN
One of the men will lead me down.

MUSKERRY (resting his hand on the bed and standing up) Sure one of the men will lead me down the stairs, too.

  Myles Gorman spreads blanket on bed.  He stands up, takes pipes,
  and is ready to go out.  Muskerry becomes more feeble.  He puts
  himself on the bed.

MUSKERRY
Myles—­Myles Gorman—­come back.

GORMAN
What will I do for you, Master?

MUSKERRY
Say a prayer for me.

GORMAN
What prayer will I say, Master?

MUSKERRY
Say “God be good to Thomas Muskerry.”

GORMAN (taking off his hat) “God be good to Thomas Muskerry, the man who was good to the poor.”  Is that all, Master?

MUSKERRY
That’s—­that’s all.

  Gorman goes to the door.

GORMAN
In a little while you’ll hear my pipes on the road.