Lucre's porter, himself a wag, knew perfectly well what was going forward, and, indeed, took very considerable delight in the movement.

When Raymond presented himself, the porter, to whom he was very well known, determined, for the joke's sake, that he should have the honor of an interview as well as the rest.

Lucre, as we said, being but seldom at Castle Cumber, was ignorant of Raymond's person and character, and, indeed, we may add, that he stood in a position precisely similar with respect to almost every one of his own flock.

When Raymond entered, then, he was addressed in much the same terms as the others.
"Well, friend, what is your business ?-- "John, admit no more, and let the carriage come round--are you a convert also ?" "Yes, I am; what have you to give me ?" "A pure and peaceful religion, my friend." "Where is it ?" "In this book--this is the Word of God, that preacheth peace and salvation to all." "Has Val M'Clutchy this book ?" "Of course he has--it is not to be supposed that so able and staunch a friend of Protestantism, of the religion of the state, could be without this book, or ignorant of it." Raymond put it tip to his nose, and after seeming to smell it, said, with a strong shudder, "how did you do this among you?
How did you do it ?--look at it--see, see, it's dripping wid blood--here's murder on this page, there's starvation on that--there's the blood-hounds huntin'-- look, sir, look at the poor creature almost worn down, makin' his way to hide, but he can't; they have him, they have him--see how they drag him, as if he was, a--ay, drag, drag, he's yours now, he's yours--whip and scourge, whip and scourge--more blood, more blood--and this is it, this--don't you see it, sir, comin' down in drops when I hould it up that way!" "My good friend, you are certainly in liquor--your language is that of a man strongly affected by drink." "And this is it," Raymond proceeded; "look at this page, that's not the one the blood is on; no, no, there's nothing here but madness.

Ah!" said he, lowering his voice to a tone of deep compassion, "sure she's mad; they killed Hugh O'Began, and they killed the two sons, and then she went mad .-- So, you see, there it is now--on that page there's blood, and, on this one,--with the big letter on it, there's madness.