Be this as it may, such was his abstraction, that he noticed not the Rev.Father M'Cabe, who had ridden for some time along with him, until that gentleman thought proper to break the ice of ceremony, and address him.
"Sir, your most obedient," said the priest; "excuse my freedom--I am the Rev.Mr.M'Cabe, Catholic Curate of Castle Cumber; but as I reside in the parish it is very possible you don't know me." Mr.Lucre felt much hurt at the insinuation thrown out against his long absence from the parish and replied:-- "I do not, sir, in the least regret our want of intimacy.

The character of your ministry in the parish is such, that he who can congratulate himself on not being acquainted with you has something to boast of.
Excuse me, sir, but I beg to assure you, that I am not at all solicitous of the honor of your company." "Touching my ministry," said the priest, "which it pleases you to condemn, I'd have you to know, that I will teach my people how to resist oppression so long as I am able to teach them anything.

I will not allow them to remain tame drudges under burthens that make you and such as you as fat and proud as Lucifer." "I request you will be good enough, sir, to take some other way," said Mr.Lucre; "you are a rude and vulgar person whom I neither know nor wish to know.

The pike and torch, sir, are congenial weapons to such a mind as yours; I do beg you will take some other way, and not continue to annoy me any longer." "This way, man alive--" "Man alive! To whom do you address such, a term ?" said Mr.Lucre; "I really have never met so very vulgar a person; I am quite sickened, upon my honor.

Man alive!! I trust I shall soon get rid of you." "This way, man alive," responded the priest, "is as free to me, in spite of corrupt jobs and grand juries, as it is to you or any other tyrant, whether spiritual or temporal.