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Ɖz tū jntlṃn n wn v ɖ kṛts carid him p ɖ sterz n leid him dǎn agn on ɖ flor v ɖ bar. In tū minits h wz srǎndd bî a rñ v men. Ɖ manijr v ɖ bar asct evrwn hu h wz n hu wz wɖ him. Nwn ń hu h wz bt wn v ɖ kṛts sd h hd srvd ɖ jntlmn wɖ a smōl rum.

“Wz h bî himslf?” asct ɖ manijr.

“No, sr. Ɖr wz tū jntlṃn wɖ him.”

“N ẃr r ɖe?”

Nwn ń; a vôs sd:

“Gv him er. H’z fentd.”

Ɖ rñ v onlŭcrz dstndd n clozd agn ilasticli. A darc medl v blud hd formd itslf nir ɖ man’z hed on ɖ teṣletd flor. Ɖ manijr, alarmd bî ɖ gre palr v ɖ man’z fes, snt fr a p’līsmn.

Hiz colr wz unfasnd n hiz nectî undun. H opnd hiz îz fr an instnt, said n clozd ɖm agn. Wn v jntlṃn hu hd carid him upsterz hld a diñd silc hat in hiz hand. Ɖ manijr asct rpitidli dd nwn nǒ hu ɖ injrd man wz or ẃr hd hiz frendz gn. Ɖ dor v ɖ bar opnd n an imns cunsṭbl entrd. A crǎd ẃć hd foloud him dǎn ɖ lenwe c’lectd ǎtsd ɖ dor, struġlñ t lc in ʈru ɖ glas panlz.

Ɖ manijr at wns bgan t nret ẃt h ń. Ɖ cunsṭbl, a yuñ man wɖ ʈic imobîl fīćrz, lisnd. H muvd hiz hed slǒli t rît n left n fṛm ɖ manijr t ɖ prsn on ɖ flor, az f h fird t b ɖ victim v sm dluźn. Ɖen h drù of hiz gluv, pṛdyst a smōl bc fṛm hiz weist, lict ɖ led v hiz pensl n md redi t indît. H asct in a sspiśs pṛvinśl axnt:

“Hu z ɖ man? Ẃt’s hiz nem n adres?”

A yuñ man in a sîc̣lñsūt clird hiz we ʈru ɖ rñ v bîstandrz. H nelt dǎn promtli bsd ɖ injrd man n cōld fr wōtr. Ɖ cunsṭbl nelt dǎn olso t hlp. Ɖ yuñ man wośt ɖ blud fṛm ɖ injrd man’z mǎʈ n ɖen cōld fr sm brandi. Ɖ cunsṭbl rpitd ɖ ordr in an oʈorittiv vôs untl a kṛt cem runñ wɖ ɖ glas. Ɖ brandi wz forst dǎn ɖ man’z ʈrot. In a fy secndz h opnd hiz îz n lct abt him. H lct at ɖ srcl v fesz n ɖen, unḍstandñ, strouv t rîz t hiz fīt.

“Y’r ol rît nǎ?” asct ɖ yuñ man in ɖ sîc̣lñsūt.

“Śa, ’z nʈñ,” sd ɖ injrd man, trayñ t stand p.

H wz hlpt t hiz fīt. Ɖ manijr sd smʈñ abt a hospitl n sm v ɖ bîstandrz gev advîs. Ɖ batrd silc hat wz plest on ɖ man’z hed. Ɖ cunsṭbl asct:

“Ẃr d y liv?”

Ɖ man, wɖt anṣrñ, bgan t twrl ɖ endz v hiz mstaś. H md lît v hiz axidnt. It wz nʈñ, h sd: onli a litl axidnt. H spouc vri ʈicli.

“Ẃr d y liv?” rpitd ɖ cunsṭbl.

Ɖ man sd ɖe wr t gt a cab fr him. Ẃl ɖ pônt wz biyñ dbetd a tōl ajîl jntlmn v fer cmplex́n, wẹrñ a loñ yelo Ulstr, cem fṛm ɖ far end v ɖ bar. Siyñ ɖ specṭcl, h cōld ǎt:

“Hlo, Tom, old man! Ẃt’s ɖ trubl?”

“Śa, ’z nʈñ,” sd ɖ man.

Ɖ ny-cmr sveid ɖ dploṛbl figr bfr him n ɖen trnd t ɖ cunsṭbl, seyñ:

“It’s ol rît, cunsṭbl. I’l si him hom.”

Ɖ cunsṭbl tućt hiz helmit n ansrd:

“Ol rît, Mr. Pǎr!”

“Cm nǎ, Tom,” sd Mr. Pǎr, tecñ hiz frend bî ɖ arm. “No bonz brocn. Ẃt? Cn y wōc?”

Ɖ yuñ man in ɖ sîc̣lñsūt tc ɖ man bî ɖ uɖr arm n ɖ crǎd dvîdd.

“Hǎ dd y gt yrslf intu ɖs mes?” asct Mr. Pǎr.

“Ɖ jntlmn fél dǎn ɖ sterz,” sd ɖ yuñ man.

“I’ ’eri ’uć o’lîjd t y, sr,” sd ɖ injrd man.

“Nt at ol.”

“’ant w hv a litl…?”

“Nt nǎ. Nt nǎ.”

Ɖ ʈri men left ɖ bar n ɖ crǎd siftd ʈru ɖ dorz intu ɖ lenwe. Ɖ manijr bròt ɖ cunsṭbl t ɖ sterz t inspct ɖ sīn v ɖ axidnt. Ɖe agrìd ɖt ɖ jntlmn mst hv míst hiz ftñ. Ɖ custmrz rtrnd t ɖ cǎntr n a kṛt set abt rmuvñ ɖ tresz v blud fṛm ɖ flor.

Ẃn ɖe cem ǎt intu Graftn Strīt, Mr. Pǎr ẃisld fr an ǎtsîdr. Ɖ injrd man sd agn az wel az h cd:

“I’ ’eri ’uć o’lîjd t y, sr. I hop w’l ’īt agn. ’î ne’ z Crnn.”

Ɖ śoc n ɖ insipịnt pen hd partli sobrd him.

“D’nt mnśn it,” sd ɖ yuñ man.

Ɖe śc handz. Mr. Crnn wz hôstd on t ɖ car n, ẃl Mr. Pǎr wz gvñ d’rex́nz t ɖ carman, h xprest hiz grattyd t ɖ yuñ man n rgretd ɖt ɖe cd nt hv a litl drinc tgɖr.

“Anɖr tîm,” sd ɖ yuñ man.

Ɖ car drouv of twdz Wstṃḷnd Strīt. Az it pást Baḷst Ofis ɖ cloc śoud haf-past nîn. A cīn īst wind hit ɖm, blowñ fṛm ɖ mǎʈ v ɖ rivr. Mr. Crnn wz hudld tgɖr wɖ cold. Hiz frend asct him t tel hǎ ɖ axidnt hd hapnd.

“I ’a’nt, ’an,” h ansrd, “’î ’uñ z hrt.”

“Śo.”

Ɖ uɖr līnd ovr ɖ wel v ɖ car n pīrd intu Mr. Crnn’z mǎʈ bt h cd nt si. H struc a mać n, ślṭrñ it in ɖ śel v hiz handz, pīrd agn intu ɖ mǎʈ ẃć Mr. Crnn opnd obījntli. Ɖ sweyñ muvmnt v ɖ car bròt ɖ mać t n fṛm ɖ opnd mǎʈ. Ɖ lowr tīʈ n gumz wr cuvrd wɖ clotd blud n a mînyt pìs v ɖ tuñ sīmd t hv bn bitn of. Ɖ mać wz bloun ǎt.

“Ɖt’s ugli,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

“Śa, ’z nʈñ,” sd Mr. Crnn, clozñ hiz mǎʈ n pŭlñ ɖ colr v hiz filʈi cot acrs hiz nec.

Mr. Crnn wz a cmrśl travlr v ɖ old scūl ẃć b’livd in ɖ digṇti v its cōlñ. H hd nvr bn sìn in ɖ siti wɖt a silc hat v sm dīsnsi n a per v geitrz. Bî gres v ɖz tū articlz v cloɖñ, h sd, a man cd olwz pas mustr. H carid on ɖ tṛdiśn v hiz Npołn, ɖ gret Blacẃît, huz meṃri h ivoct at tîmz bî lejnd n miṃcri. Modn biznismeʈ̇dz hd sperd him onli so far az t alǎ him a litl ofis in Crou Strīt on ɖ windoblînd v ẃć wz ritn ɖ nem v hiz frm wɖ ɖ adres—Lundn, Ī.S. On ɖ mantlpìs v ɖs litl ofis a litl ledn btałn v canistrz wz drwn p n on ɖ tebl bfr ɖ windo std for or fîv ćîna bolz ẃć wr yẓ́li haf fl v a blac liqid. Fṛm ɖz bolz Mr. Crnn testd ti. H tc a mǎʈfl, drù it p, sać̣retd hiz palit wɖ it n ɖen spat it fʈ intu ɖ greit. Ɖen h pōzd t juj.

Mr. Pǎr, a mć yungr man, wz imploid in ɖ Royl Îriś Cnstabyḷri Ofis in Dublin Casl. Ɖ arc v hiz sośl rîz inṭsctd ɖ arc v hiz frend’z dclîn, bt Mr. Crnn’z dclîn wz mitgetd bî ɖ fact ɖt srtn v ɖoz frendz hu hd noun him at hiz hîist pônt v s’xes stl istimd him az a caṛctr. Mr. Pǎr wz wn v ɖz frendz. Hiz inixplicbl déts wr a bîwrd in hiz srcl; h wz a deḅner yuñ man.

Ɖ car hōltd bfr a smōl hǎs on ɖ Glasnevin rod n Mr. Crnn wz hlpt intu ɖ hǎs. Hiz wîf pt him t bed ẃl Mr. Pǎr sat dǎnsterz in ɖ cićn ascñ ɖ ćildṛn ẃr ɖe wnt t scūl n ẃt bc ɖe wr in. Ɖ ćildṛn—tū grlz n a bô, conśs v ɖer faɖr’z hlplisnis n v ɖer muɖr’z absns, bgan sm horsple wɖ him. H wz s’prîzd at ɖer manrz n at ɖer axnts, n hiz brǎ grù ʈtfl. Aftr a ẃl Msz Crnn entrd ɖ cićn, xclemñ:

“Sć a sît! Ǒ, h’l d fr himslf wn de n ɖt’s ɖ holi olz v it. H’z bn drincñ sins Frîde.”

Mr. Pǎr wz cerfl t xplen t hr ɖt h wz nt rsponsbl, ɖt h hd cm on ɖ sīn bî ɖ mirist axidnt. Msz Crnn, rmemḅrñ Mr. Pǎr’z gd of̣sz jrñ dmestic qoṛlz, az wel az mni smōl, bt oṗtyn lounz, sd:

“Ǒ, y nīd’nt tel m ɖt, Mr. Pǎr. I nǒ y’r a frend v hiz, nt lîc sm v ɖ uɖrz h dz b wɖ. Ɖ’r ol rît so loñ az h hz muni in hiz pocit t cīp him ǎt fṛm hiz wîf n faṃli. Nîs frendz! Hu wz h wɖ tnît, I’d lîc t nǒ?”

Mr. Pǎr śc hiz hed bt sd nʈñ.

“I’m so sori,” ś cntinyd, “ɖt I’v nʈñ in ɖ hǎs t ofr y. Bt f y wêt a minit I’l snd rnd t Foġti’z at ɖ cornr.”

Mr. Pǎr std p.

“W wr wêtñ fr him t cm hom wɖ ɖ muni. H nvr sīmz t ʈnc h hz a hom at ol.”

“Ǒ, nǎ, Msz Crnn,” sd Mr. Pǎr, “w’l mc him trn ovr a ny līf. I’l tōc t Martin. H’z ɖ man. W’l cm hir wn v ɖz nîts n tōc it ovr.”

Ś sw him t ɖ dor. Ɖ carman wz stampñ p n dǎn ɖ ftpaʈ, n swññ hiz armz t worm himslf.

“It’s vri cînd v y t brñ him hom,” ś sd.

“Nt at ol,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

H got p on ɖ car. Az it drouv of h rezd hiz hat t hr gêli.

“W’l mc a ny man v him,” h sd. “Gdnît, Msz Crnn.”

Msz Crnn’z puzld îz woćt ɖ car tl it wz ǎt v sît. Ɖen ś wɖdru ɖm, wnt intu ɖ hǎs n emtid hr huzbnd’z pocits.

Ś wz an activ, practicl wmn v midl ej. Nt loñ bfr ś hd seḷbretd hr silvr wedñ n rnyd hr intiṃsi wɖ hr huzbnd bî wōltsñ wɖ him t Mr. Pǎr’z acumṗnimnt. In hr dez v cortśp Mr. Crnn hd sīmd t hr a nt ungaḷnt figr: n ś stl hurid t ɖ ćapldor ẃnvr a wedñ wz rportd n, siyñ ɖ brîdl per, rcōld wɖ vivid pleźr hǎ ś hd pást ǎt v ɖ Star v ɖ Sì Ćrć in Sandimǎnt, līnñ on ɖ arm v a jovịl wel-féd man, hu wz drest smartli in a froc̦ot n lavndr trǎzrz n carid a silc hat gresf̣li baḷnst upn hiz uɖr arm. Aftr ʈri wīcs ś hd faund a wîf’s lîf rcsm n, lêtr on, ẃn ś wz bginñ t fînd it unbeṛbl, ś hd bcm a muɖr. Ɖ part v muɖr prizntd t hr no insūpṛbl dificltiz n fr twenti-fîv yirz ś hd cept hǎs śrūdli fr hr huzbnd. Hr tū eldist sunz wr lōnćt. Wn wz in a drepr’z śop in Glazgo n ɖ uɖr wz clarc t a tīmrćnt in Belfast. Ɖe wr gd sunz, rout reğlrli n smtmz snt hom muni. Ɖ uɖr ćildṛn wr stl at scūl.

Mr. Crnn snt a letr t hiz ofis nxt de n rmend in bed. Ś md bīf ti fr him n scoldd him rǎndli. Ś axptd hiz frīqnt intmpṛns az part v ɖ clîṃt, hīld him dytifli ẃnvr h wz sic n olwz traid t mc him īt a brecfst. Ɖr wr wrs huzbndz. H hd nvr bn vayḷnt sins ɖ bôz hd groun p n ś ń ɖt h wd wōc t ɖ end v Toṃs Strīt n bac agn t bc īvn a smōl ordr.

Tū nîts aftr, hiz frendz cem t si him. Ś bròt ɖm p t hiz bedrūm, ɖ er v ẃć wz impṛgnetd wɖ a prsnl ǒdr, n gev ɖm ćerz at ɖ fîr. Mr. Crnn’z tuñ, ɖ oceźnl stññ pen v ẃć hd md him smẃt iritbl jrñ ɖ de, bcem mor p’lît. H sat propt p in ɖ bed bî piloz n ɖ litl culr in hiz pufi ćīcs md ɖm rzmbl worm sindrz. H apoḷjîzd t hiz gests fr ɖ dsordr v ɖ rūm, bt at ɖ sem tîm lct at ɖm a litl prǎdli, wɖ a vetṛn’z prîd.

H wz qt unconśs ɖt h wz ɖ victim v a plot ẃć hiz frendz, Mr. Cunñm, Mr. M’Cô n Mr. Pǎr hd dsclozd t Msz Crnn in ɖ parlr. Ɖ îdīa hd bn Mr. Pǎr’z bt its dveḷpmnt wz intrustd t Mr. Cunñm. Mr. Crnn cem v Protistnt stoc n, ɖo h hd bn cnvrtd t ɖ Caʈ̇lic feʈ at ɖ tîm v hiz marij, h hd nt bn in ɖ pel v ɖ Ćrć fr twenti yirz. H wz fond, morovr, v gvñ sîd-ʈrusts at Cʈoḷsizm.

Mr. Cunñm wz ɖ vri man fr sć a ces. H wz an eldr colīg v Mr. Pǎr. Hiz ǒn dmestic lîf wz nt vri hapi. Ppl hd gret simṗʈi wɖ him fr it wz noun ɖt h hd marid an unprizntbl wmn hu wz an inkṛbl drunc̣d. H hd set p hǎs fr hr six tîmz; n ć tîm ś hd pònd ɖ frnićr on him.

Evrwn hd rspct fr pur Martin Cunñm. H wz a ʈuṛli snṣbl man, influenśl n intelijnt. Hiz bled v hymn nolij, naćṛl astytnis ptikḷrîzd bî loñ asośieśn wɖ cesz in ɖ p’līscorts, hd bn tmprd bî brīf imrśnz in ɖ wōtrz v jenṛl f’loṣfi. H wz wel-informd. Hiz frendz baud t hiz opińnz n cnsidrd ɖt hiz fes wz lîc Śecspir’z.

Ẃn ɖ plot hd bn dsclozd t hr, Msz Crnn hd sd:

“I līv it ol in yr handz, Mr. Cunñm.”

Aftr a qortr v a snćri v marid lîf, ś hd vri fy iluźnz left. Rlijn fr hr wz a habit n ś sspctd ɖt a man v hr huzbnd’z ej wd nt ćenj gretli bfr deʈ. Ś wz tmtd t si a krịs aproprịtnis in hiz axidnt n, bt ɖt ś dd nt wś t sīm bludi-mîndd, ś wd hv tld ɖ jntlṃn ɖt Mr. Crnn’z tuñ wd nt sufr bî biyñ śortnd. Hvr, Mr. Cunñm wz a ceṗbl man; n rlijn wz rlijn. Ɖ scīm mt d gd n, at līst, it cd d no harm. Hr b’lifs wr nt xtraṿgnt. Ś b’livd steḍli in ɖ Secrid Hart az ɖ most jenṛli ysfl v ol Caʈ̇lic dvośnz n apruvd v ɖ sacṛmnts. Hr feʈ wz baundd bî hr cićn bt, f ś wz pt t it, ś cd b’liv olso in ɖ banśī n in ɖ Holi Gost.

Ɖ jntlṃn bgan t tōc v ɖ axidnt. Mr. Cunñm sd ɖt h hd wns noun a similr ces. A man v sevnti hd bitn of a pìs v hiz tuñ jrñ an epileptic fit n ɖ tuñ hd fild in agn so ɖt nwn cd si a tres v ɖ bît.

“Wel, I’m nt sevnti,” sd ɖ inṿlid.

“God fbid,” sd Mr. Cunñm.

“It dz’nt pen y nǎ?” asct Mr. M’Cô.

Mr. M’Cô hd bn at wn tîm a tenr v sm repyteśn. Hiz wîf, hu hd bn a s’prāno, stl tòt yuñ ćildṛn t ple ɖ piano at lo trmz. Hiz lîn v lîf hd nt bn ɖ śortist distns btwn tū pônts n fr śort pirịdz h hd bn drivn t liv bî hiz wits. H hd bn a clarc in ɖ Midḷnd Relwe, a canvsr fr advrtismnts fr Ɖ Îriś Tîmz n fr Ɖ Frīmn’z Jrnl, a tǎntravlr fr a colfrm on cmiśn, a prîṿt inqîri-ejnt, a clarc in ɖ ofis v ɖ Sub-Śerif n h hd rīsntli bcm secṛtri t ɖ Siti Coṛnr. Hiz ny ofis md him pṛfeśṇli inṭrestd in Mr. Crnn’z ces.

“Pen? Nt mć,” ansrd Mr. Crnn. “Bt it’s so sic̣nñ. I fīl az f I wontd t réć of.”

“Ɖt’s ɖ būz,” sd Mr. Cunñm frmli.

“No,” sd Mr. Crnn. “I ʈnc I còt a cold on ɖ car. Ɖr’z smʈñ cīps cmñ intu mî ʈrot, flém or——”

“Ḿc̣s,” sd Mr. M’Cô.

“It cīps cmñ lîc fṛm dǎn in mî ʈrot; sic̣nñ ʈñ.”

“Yes, yes,” sd Mr. M’Cô, “ɖt’s ɖ ʈorax.”

H lct at Mr. Cunñm n Mr. Pǎr at ɖ sem tîm wɖ an er v ćalinj. Mr. Cunñm nodd hiz hed rapidli n Mr. Pǎr sd:

“Ā, wel, ol’z wel ɖt endz wel.”

“I’m vri mć oblîjd t y, old man,” sd ɖ inṿlid.

Mr. Pǎr wevd hiz hand.

“Ɖoz uɖr tū feloz I wz wɖ——”

“Hu wr y wɖ?” asct Mr. Cunñm.

“A ćap. I d’nt nǒ hiz nem. Dám it nǎ, ẃt’s hiz nem? Litl ćap wɖ sandi her…”

“N hu els?”

“Harf̣d.”

“Hm,” sd Mr. Cunñm.

Ẃn Mr. Cunñm md ɖt rmarc, ppl wr sîḷnt. It wz noun ɖt ɖ spīcr hd sīcrit sorsz v inf̣meśn. In ɖs ces ɖ moṇsiḷbl hd a moṛl intnśn. Mr. Harf̣d smtmz formd wn v a litl dtaćmnt ẃć left ɖ siti śortli aftr nūn on Súnde wɖ ɖ prṗs v arîvñ az sn az poṣbl at sm publichǎs on ɖ ǎtscrts v ɖ siti ẃr its membrz dyli qoḷfaid ɖmslvz az bona fide travlrz. Bt hiz felotravlrz hd nvr cnsntd t oṿlc hiz oṛjin. H hd bgun lîf az an obskr finansịr bî lendñ smōl sumz v muni t wrcṃn at yźurịs inṭrest. Lêtr on h hd bcm ɖ partnr v a vri fat śort jntlmn, Mr. Goldbrg, in ɖ Lifi Lounbanc. Ɖo h hd nvr imbrest mor ɖn ɖ Juiś eʈicl cod, hiz felo-Caʈ̇lics, ẃnvr ɖe hd smartd in prsn or bî proxi undr hiz xax́nz, spouc v him bitrli az an Îriś Ju n an ilitṛt n sw dvîn dis’pruvl v yẓ́ri md maṇfest ʈru ɖ prsn v hiz idịtsun. At uɖr tîmz ɖe rmembrd hiz gd pônts.

“I wundr ẃr dd h g t,” sd Mr. Crnn.

H wśt ɖ dītelz v ɖ insidnt t rmen veg. H wśt hiz frendz t ʈnc ɖr hd bn sm mstec, ɖt Mr. Harf̣d n h hd míst ć uɖr. Hiz frendz, hu ń qt wel Mr. Harf̣d’z manrz in drincñ, wr sîḷnt. Mr. Pǎr sd agn:

“Ol’z wel ɖt endz wel.”

Mr. Crnn ćenjd ɖ subjict at wns.

“Ɖt wz a dīsnt yuñ ćap, ɖt medicl felo,” h sd. “Onli fr him——”

“Ǒ, onli fr him,” sd Mr. Pǎr, “it mt hv bn a ces v sevn dez, wɖt ɖ opśn v a fîn.”

“Yes, yes,” sd Mr. Crnn, trayñ t rmembr. “I rmembr nǎ ɖr wz a p’līsmn. Dīsnt yuñ felo, h sīmd. Hǎ dd it hapn at ol?”

“It hapnd ɖt y wr p’luɖrd, Tom,” sd Mr. Cunñm grevli.

“Tru bil,” sd Mr. Crnn, īqli grevli.

“I s’poz y sqerd ɖ cunsṭbl, Jac,” sd Mr. M’Cô.

Mr. Pǎr dd nt reliś ɖ ys v hiz Crisćn nem. H wz nt stret-lêst, bt h cd nt fget ɖt Mr. M’Cô hd rīsntli md a crūsed in srć v vlīzz n portmantoz t inebl Msz M’Cô t flfil imajinri ingejmnts in ɖ cuntri. Mor ɖn h rzntd ɖ fact ɖt h hd bn vicṭmîzd h rzntd sć lo pleyñ v ɖ gem. H ansrd ɖ qsćn, ɖrfr, az f Mr. Crnn hd asct it.

Ɖ naṛtiv md Mr. Crnn indignnt. H wz cīnli conśs v hiz sitiznśp, wśt t liv wɖ hiz siti on trmz ḿć̣li onṛbl n rzntd eni afrunt pt upn him bî ɖoz hūm h cōld cuntribumcinz.

“Z ɖs ẃt w pe rets fr?” h asct. “T fīd n cloɖ ɖz ignṛnt bostumz … n ɖ’r nʈñ els.”

Mr. Cunñm laft. H wz a Casl ofiśl onli jrñ ofis-aurz.

“Hǎ cd ɖe b enʈñ els, Tom?” h sd.

H asymd a ʈic pṛvinśl axnt n sd in a ton v cmand:

“65, cać yr cabij!”

Evrwn laft. Mr. M’Cô, hu wontd t entr ɖ convseśn bî eni dor, pritndd ɖt h hd nvr hŕd ɖ stori. Mr. Cunñm sd:

“It z s’pozd—ɖe se, y nǒ—t tec ples in ɖ depo ẃr ɖe gt ɖz ʈunḍrñ big cuntrifeloz, oṃdōnz, y nǒ, t dril. Ɖ sarjnt mcs ɖm stand in a ro agnst ɖ wōl n hold p ɖer plets.”

H iḷstretd ɖ stori bî gṛtesc jsćrz.

“At dinr, y nǒ. Ɖen h hz a bludi big bol v cabij bfr him on ɖ tebl n a bludi big spūn lîc a śuvl. H tecs p a wod v cabij on ɖ spūn n pegz it acrs ɖ rūm n ɖ pur devlz hv t trî n cać it on ɖer plets: 65, cać yr cabij.”

Evrwn laft agn: bt Mr. Crnn wz smẃt indignnt stl. H tōct v raitñ a letr t ɖ peprz.

“Ɖz yāhuz cmñ p hir,” h sd, “ʈnc ɖe cn bos ɖ ppl. I nīd’nt tel y, Martin, ẃt cnd v men ɖe r.”

Mr. Cunñm gev a qoḷfaid asnt.

“It’s lîc evrʈñ els in ɖs wrld,” h sd. “Y gt sm bad wnz n y gt sm gd wnz.”

“Ǒ yes, y gt sm gd wnz, I admit,” sd Mr. Crnn, saṭsfaid.

“It’s betr t hv nʈñ t se t ɖm,” sd Mr. M’Cô. “Ɖt’s mî opińn!”

Msz Crnn entrd ɖ rūm n, plesñ a tre on ɖ tebl, sd:

“Hlp yrslvz, jntlṃn.”

Mr. Pǎr std p t ofiśiet, of̣rñ hr hiz ćer. Ś dclînd it, seyñ ś wz aynñ dǎnsterz, n, aftr hvñ xćenjd a nod wɖ Mr. Cunñm bhnd Mr. Pǎr’z bac, priperd t līv ɖ rūm. Hr huzbnd cōld ǎt t hr:

“N hv y nʈñ fr m, duci?”

“Ǒ, y! Ɖ bac v mî hand t y!” sd Msz Crnn tartli.

Hr huzbnd cōld aftr hr:

“Nʈñ fr pur litl hubi!”

H asymd sć a comicl fes n vôs ɖt ɖ distṛbyśn v ɖ botlz v stǎt tc ples amd jenṛl merimnt.

Ɖ jntlṃn dranc fṛm ɖer glasz, set ɖ glasz agn on ɖ tebl n pōzd. Ɖen Mr. Cunñm trnd twdz Mr. Pǎr n sd caẓ́li:

“On Ʈrzde nît, y sd, Jac.”

“Ʈrzde, yes,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

“Rîto!” sd Mr. Cunñm promtli.

“W cn mīt in M’Ōli’z,” sd Mr. M’Cô. “Ɖt’l b ɖ most cnvińnt ples.”

“Bt w ms’nt b lêt,” sd Mr. Pǎr rṇstli, “bcz it z śr t b cramd t ɖ dorz.”

“W cn mīt at haf-sevn,” sd Mr. M’Cô.

“Rîto!” sd Mr. Cunñm.

“Haf-sevn at M’Ōli’z b it!”

Ɖr wz a śort sîḷns. Mr. Crnn wêtd t si ẃɖr h wd b tecn intu hiz frendz’ confidns. Ɖen h asct:

“Ẃt’s in ɖ wind?”

“Ǒ, it’s nʈñ,” sd Mr. Cunñm. “It’s onli a litl matr ɖt w’r arenjñ abt fr Ʈrzde.”

“Ɖ oṗra, z it?” sd Mr. Crnn.

“No, no,” sd Mr. Cunñm in an ivesiv ton, “it’s jst a litl … spirićl matr.”

“Ǒ,” sd Mr. Crnn.

Ɖr wz sîḷns agn. Ɖen Mr. Pǎr sd, pônt blanc:

“T tel y ɖ truʈ, Tom, w’r gwñ t mc a rtrit.”

“Yes, ɖt’s it,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “Jac n I n M’Cô hir—w’r ol gwñ t woś ɖ pot.”

H utrd ɖ meṭfr wɖ a srtn homli eṇji n, incurijd bî hiz ǒn vôs, pṛsidd:

“Y si, w me az wel ol admit w’r a nîs c’lex́n v scǎndṛlz, wn n ol. I se, wn n ol,” h add wɖ gruf ćaṛti n trnñ t Mr. Pǎr. “Ǒn p nǎ!”

“I ǒn p,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

“N I ǒn p,” sd Mr. M’Cô.

“So w’r gwñ t woś ɖ pot tgɖr,” sd Mr. Cunñm.

A ʈt sīmd t strîc him. H trnd sudnli t ɖ inṿlid n sd:

“D’yi nǒ ẃt, Tom, hz jst ocŕd t m? Y mt jôn in n w’d hv a for-handd rīl.”

“Gd îdīa,” sd Mr. Pǎr. “Ɖ for v s tgɖr.”

Mr. Crnn wz sîḷnt. Ɖ pṛpozl cnveid vri litl mīnñ t hiz mînd bt, unḍstandñ ɖt sm spirićl ejnsiz wr abt t cnsrn ɖmslvz on hiz bhaf, h ʈt h oud it t hiz digṇti t śo a stif nec. H tc no part in ɖ convseśn fr a loñ ẃl bt lisnd, wɖ an er v cām enṃti, ẃl hiz frendz dscust ɖ Jeźuits.

“I hv’nt sć a bad opińn v ɖ Jeźuits,” h sd, inṭvinñ at leñʈ. “Ɖ’r an edycetd ordr. I b’liv ɖe mīn wel tù.”

“Ɖ’r ɖ grandist ordr in ɖ Ćrć, Tom,” sd Mr. Cunñm, wɖ inʈyziazm. “Ɖ Jenṛl v ɖ Jeźuits standz nxt t ɖ Pǒp.”

“Ɖr’z no mstec abt it,” sd Mr. M’Cô, “f y wont a ʈñ wel dn n no flîz abt it y g t a Jeźuit. Ɖ’r ɖ bôoz hv inflụns. I’l tel y a ces in pônt…”

“Ɖ Jeźuits r a fîn bodi v men,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

“It’s a krịs ʈñ,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “abt ɖ Jeźuit Ordr. Evri uɖr ordr v ɖ Ćrć hd t b rformd at sm tîm or uɖr bt ɖ Jeźuit Ordr wz nvr wns rformd. It nvr fél awe.”

“Z ɖt so?” asct Mr. M’Cô.

“Ɖt’s a fact,” sd Mr. Cunñm. “Ɖt’s hisṭri.”

“Lc at ɖer ćrć, tù,” sd Mr. Pǎr. “Lc at ɖ congṛgeśn ɖe hv.”

“Ɖ Jeźuits cetr fr ɖ upr clasz,” sd Mr. M’Cô.

“V cors,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

“Yes,” sd Mr. Crnn. “Ɖt’s ẃ I hv a fīlñ fr ɖm. It’s sm v ɖoz seklr prīsts, ignṛnt, bumśs——”

“Ɖ’r ol gd men,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “ć in hiz ǒn we. Ɖ Îriś prīsthd z onrd ol ɖ wrld ovr.”

“Ǒ yes,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

“Nt lîc sm v ɖ uɖr prīsthdz on ɖ continnt,” sd Mr. M’Cô, “unwrɖi v ɖ nem.”

“Phps y’r rît,” sd Mr. Crnn, rlentñ.

“V cors I’m rît,” sd Mr. Cunñm. “I hv’nt bn in ɖ wrld ol ɖs tîm n sìn most sîdz v it wɖt biyñ a juj v caṛctr.”

Ɖ jntlṃn dranc agn, wn folowñ anɖr’z xampl. Mr. Crnn sīmd t b weyñ smʈñ in hiz mînd. H wz imprest. H hd a hî opińn v Mr. Cunñm az a juj v caṛctr n az a rīdr v fesz. H asct fr ptiklrz.

“Ǒ, it’s jst a rtrit, y nǒ,” sd Mr. Cunñm. “Faɖr Prdn z gvñ it. It’s fr biznisṃn, y nǒ.”

“H w’nt b tù hard on s, Tom,” sd Mr. Pǎr pswesivli.

“Faɖr Prdn? Faɖr Prdn?” sd ɖ inṿlid.

“Ǒ, y mst nǒ him, Tom,” sd Mr. Cunñm stǎtli. “Fîn joli felo! H’z a man v ɖ wrld lîc ǎrslvz.”

“Ā, … yes. I ʈnc I nǒ him. Rɖr red fes; tōl.”

“Ɖt’s ɖ man.”

“N tel m, Martin… Z h a gd prīćr?”

“Muno… It’s nt xacli a srmn, y nǒ. It’s jst cnd v a frendli tōc, y nǒ, in a comn-sns we.”

Mr. Crnn dliḅretd. Mr. M’Cô sd:

“Faɖr Tom Brc, ɖt wz ɖ bô!”

“Ǒ, Faɖr Tom Brc,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “ɖt wz a born oṛtr. Dd y evr hír him, Tom?”

“Dd I evr hír him!” sd ɖ inṿlid, netld. “Rɖr! I hŕd him…”

“N yt ɖe se h wz’nt mć v a ʈịlojn,” sd Mr. Cunñm.

“Z ɖt so?” sd Mr. M’Cô.

“Ǒ, v cors, nʈñ roñ, y nǒ. Onli smtmz, ɖe se, h dd’nt prīć ẃt wz qt orʈ̇dox.”

“Ā! … h wz a splendid man,” sd Mr. M’Cô.

“I hŕd him wns,” Mr. Crnn cntinyd. “I fget ɖ subjict v hiz discors nǎ. Croftn n I wr in ɖ bac v ɖ … pit, y nǒ … ɖ——”

“Ɖ bodi,” sd Mr. Cunñm.

“Yes, in ɖ bac nir ɖ dor. I fget nǎ ẃt… Ǒ yes, it wz on ɖ Pǒp, ɖ lêt Pǒp. I rmembr it wel. Upn mî wrd it wz mgnifisnt, ɖ stîl v ɖ oṛtri. N hiz vôs! God! hd’nt h a vôs! Ɖ Priznr v ɖ Vaticn, h cōld him. I rmembr Croftn seyñ t m ẃn w cem ǎt——”

“Bt h’z an Orinjmn, Croftn, z’nt h?” sd Mr. Pǎr.

“‘Cors h z,” sd Mr. Crnn, “n a dámd dīsnt Orinjmn tù. W wnt intu Butlr’z in Mōr Strīt—feʈ, I wz jenyinli muvd, tel y ɖ God’z truʈ—n I rmembr wel hiz vri wrdz. Crnn, h sd, w wrśp at difṛnt ōltrz, h sd, bt ǎr b’lif z ɖ sem. Struc m az vri wel pt.”

“Ɖr’z a gd dīl in ɖt,” sd Mr. Pǎr. “Ɖr yst olwz t b crǎdz v Protistnts in ɖ ćapl ẃr Faɖr Tom wz prīćñ.”

“Ɖr’z nt mć difṛns btwn s,” sd Mr. M’Cô.

“W bʈ b’liv in——”

H heztetd fr a momnt.

“… in ɖ Rdimr. Onli ɖe d’nt b’liv in ɖ Pǒp n in ɖ muɖr v God.”

“Bt, v cors,” sd Mr. Cunñm qaytli n ifctivli, “ǎr rlijn z ɖ rlijn, ɖ old, orijinl feʈ.”

“Nt a dǎt v it,” sd Mr. Crnn wormli.

Msz Crnn cem t ɖ dor v ɖ bedrūm n anǎnst:

“Hir’z a vizitr fr y!”

“Hu z it?”

“Mr. Foġti.”

“Ǒ, cm in! cm in!”

A pel ovl fes cem fwd intu ɖ lît. Ɖ arć v its fer trelñ mstaś wz rpitd in ɖ fer îbrǎz lūpt abv plezntli astoniśt îz. Mr. Foġti wz a modist grosr. H hd feld in biznis in a lîsnst hǎs in ɖ siti bcz hiz fnanśl cndiśn hd cnstrend him t tî himslf t secnd-clas dstilrz n bruwrz. H hd opnd a smōl śop on Glasnevin Rod ẃr, h flatrd himslf, hiz manrz wd ingreśiet him wɖ ɖ hǎswîvz v ɖ district. H bòr himslf wɖ a srtn gres, compḷmntd litl ćildṛn n spouc wɖ a nīt inunsieśn. H wz nt wɖt culćr.

Mr. Foġti bròt a gift wɖ him, a haf-pînt v speśl ẃisci. H inqîrd p’lîtli fr Mr. Crnn, plest hiz gift on ɖ tebl n sat dǎn wɖ ɖ cumṗni on īql trmz. Mr. Crnn aprīśietd ɖ gift ol ɖ mor sins h wz awer ɖt ɖr wz a smōl acǎnt fr groṣriz unsetld btwn him n Mr. Foġti. H sd:

“I wd’nt dǎt y, old man. Opn ɖt, Jac, wl y?”

Mr. Pǎr agn ofiśietd. Glasz wr rinst n fîv smōl meźrz v ẃisci wr pord ǎt. Ɖs ny inflụns inlîvnd ɖ convseśn. Mr. Foġti, sitñ on a smōl eria v ɖ ćer, wz speṣ́li inṭrestd.

“Pǒp Lio XIII.,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “wz wn v ɖ lîts v ɖ ej. Hiz gret îdīa, y nǒ, wz ɖ yńn v ɖ Latin n Grīc Ćrćz. Ɖt wz ɖ em v hiz lîf.”

“I ofn hŕd h wz wn v ɖ most inṭlecćl men in Yṛp,” sd Mr. Pǎr. “I mīn, apart fṛm hiz biyñ Pǒp.”

“So h wz,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “f nt ɖ most so. Hiz moto, y nǒ, az Pǒp, wz Lux upn Lux—Lît upn Lît.”

“No, no,” sd Mr. Foġti īgrli. “I ʈnc y’r roñ ɖr. It wz Lux in Tenebris, I ʈnc—Lît in Darcnis.”

“Ǒ yes,” sd Mr. M’Cô, “Tenebrae.”

“Alǎ m,” sd Mr. Cunñm poztivli, “it wz Lux upn Lux. N Pius IX. hiz prīdisesr’z moto wz Crux upn Crux—ɖt z, Cros upn Cros—t śo ɖ difṛns btwn ɖer tū pontific̣ts.”

Ɖ infṛns wz alaud. Mr. Cunñm cntinyd.

“Pǒp Lio, y nǒ, wz a gret scolr n a powt.”

“H hd a stroñ fes,” sd Mr. Crnn.

“Yes,” sd Mr. Cunñm. “H rout Latin powtri.”

“Z ɖt so?” sd Mr. Foġti.

Mr. M’Cô testd hiz ẃisci cntntidli n śc hiz hed wɖ a dubl intnśn, seyñ:

“Ɖt’s no joc, I cn tel y.”

“W dd’nt lrn ɖt, Tom,” sd Mr. Pǎr, folowñ Mr. M’Cô’z xampl, “ẃn w wnt t ɖ peni-a-wīc scūl.”

“Ɖr wz mni a gd man wnt t ɖ peni-a-wīc scūl wɖ a sod v trf undr hiz oxtr,” sd Mr. Crnn sntnśsli. “Ɖ old sistm wz ɖ bst: plen onist edyceśn. Nn v yr modn trumṗri…”

“Qt rît,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

“No sūṗfluwtiz,” sd Mr. Foġti.

H inunsietd ɖ wrd n ɖen dranc grevli.

“I rmembr rīdñ,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “ɖt wn v Pǒp Lio’z powmz wz on ɖ invnśn v ɖ foṭgraf—in Latin, v cors.”

“On ɖ foṭgraf!” xclemd Mr. Crnn.

“Yes,” sd Mr. Cunñm.

H olso dranc fṛm hiz glas.

“Wel, y nǒ,” sd Mr. M’Cô, “z’nt ɖ foṭgraf wundrfl ẃn y cm t ʈnc v it?”

“Ǒ, v cors,” sd Mr. Pǎr, “gret mîndz cn si ʈñz.”

“Az ɖ powt sz: Gret mîndz r vri nir t madnis,” sd Mr. Foġti.

Mr. Crnn sīmd t b trubld in mînd. H md an ef̣t t rcōl ɖ Protistnt ʈioḷji on sm ʈorni pônts n in ɖ end adrest Mr. Cunñm.

“Tel m, Martin,” h sd. “Wr’nt sm v ɖ pǒps—v cors, nt ǎr preznt man, or hiz prīdisesr, bt sm v ɖ old pǒps—nt xacli … y nǒ … p t ɖ nocr?”

Ɖr wz a sîḷns. Mr. Cunñm sd:

“Ǒ, v cors, ɖr wr sm bad lots… Bt ɖ astoṇśñ ʈñ z ɖs. Nt wn v ɖm, nt ɖ bigist drunc̣d, nt ɖ most … ǎt-n-ǎt rufịn, nt wn v ɖm evr prīćt ex cathedra a wrd v fōls doctrin. Nǎ z’nt ɖt an astoṇśñ ʈñ?”

“Ɖt z,” sd Mr. Crnn.

“Yes, bcz ẃn ɖ Pǒp spīcs ex cathedra,” Mr. Foġti xplend, “h z infaḷbl.”

“Yes,” sd Mr. Cunñm.

“Ǒ, I nǒ abt ɖ infaḷbiḷti v ɖ Pǒp. I rmembr I wz yungr ɖen… Or wz it ɖt——?”

Mr. Foġti inṭruptd. H tc p ɖ botl n hlpt ɖ uɖrz t a litl mor. Mr. M’Cô, siyñ ɖt ɖr wz nt inuf t g rnd, plīdd ɖt h hd nt finiśt hiz frst meźr. Ɖ uɖrz axptd undr protest. Ɖ lît ḿzic v ẃisci fōlñ intu glasz md an agriybl inṭlud.

“Ẃt’s ɖt y wr seyñ, Tom?” asct Mr. M’Cô.

“Pepl infaḷbiḷti,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “ɖt wz ɖ gretist sīn in ɖ hol hisṭri v ɖ Ćrć.”

“Hǎ wz ɖt, Martin?” asct Mr. Pǎr.

Mr. Cunñm hld p tū ʈic fngrz.

“In ɖ secrid colij, y nǒ, v cardinlz n arćbiṣ́ps n biṣ́ps ɖr wr tū men hu hld ǎt agnst it ẃl ɖ uɖrz wr ol fr it. Ɖ hol conclev xpt ɖz tū wz ynaniṃs. No! Ɖe wd’nt hv it!”

“Ha!” sd Mr. M’Cô.

“N ɖe wr a Jrmn cardinl bî ɖ nem v Dolñ … or Dǎlñ … or——”

“Dǎlñ wz no Jrmn, n ɖt’s a śr fîv,” sd Mr. Pǎr, lafñ.

“Wel, ɖs gret Jrmn cardinl, ẃtvr hiz nem wz, wz wn; n ɖ uɖr wz Jon McHel.”

“Ẃt?” craid Mr. Crnn. “Z it Jon v Tuwm?”

“R y śr v ɖt nǎ?” asct Mr. Foġti dybịsli. “I ʈt it wz sm Itałn or Americn.”

“Jon v Tuwm,” rpitd Mr. Cunñm, “wz ɖ man.”

H dranc n ɖ uɖr jntlṃn foloud hiz līd. Ɖen h rzymd:

“Ɖr ɖe wr at it, ol ɖ cardinlz n biṣ́ps n arćbiṣ́ps fṛm ol ɖ endz v ɖ rʈ n ɖz tū fîtñ dog n devl untl at last ɖ Pǒp himslf std p n dclerd infaḷbiḷti a dogma v ɖ Ćrć ex cathedra. On ɖ vri momnt Jon McHel, hu hd bn argywñ n argywñ agnst it, std p n śǎtd ǎt wɖ ɖ vôs v a layn: ‘Credo!’”

“I b’liv!” sd Mr. Foġti.

“Credo!” sd Mr. Cunñm. “Ɖt śoud ɖ feʈ h hd. H sbmitd ɖ momnt ɖ Pǒp spouc.”

“N ẃt abt Dǎlñ?” asct Mr. M’Cô.

“Ɖ Jrmn cardinl wd’nt sbmit. H left ɖ ćrć.”

Mr. Cunñm’z wrdz hd bilt p ɖ vast imij v ɖ ćrć in ɖ mîndz v hiz hírrz. Hiz dīp rōc̣s vôs hd ʈrild ɖm az it utrd ɖ wrd v b’lif n sbmiśn. Ẃn Msz Crnn cem intu ɖ rūm drayñ hr handz ś cem intu a soḷm cumṗni. Ś dd nt dstrb ɖ sîḷns, bt līnd ovr ɖ rel at ɖ ft v ɖ bed.

“I wns sw Jon McHel,” sd Mr. Crnn, “n I’l nvr fget it az loñ az I liv.”

H trnd twdz hiz wîf t b cnfrmd.

“I ofn tld y ɖt?”

Msz Crnn nodd.

“It wz at ɖ unveilñ v Sr Jon Gre’z staću. Edṃnd Dwîr Gre wz spīcñ, blaɖ̇rñ awe, n hir wz ɖs old felo, crabd-lcñ old ćap, lcñ at him fṛm undr hiz bŭśi îbrǎz.”

Mr. Crnn nitd hiz brǎz n, lowrñ hiz hed lîc an angri bl, glerd at hiz wîf.

“God!” h xclemd, rzymñ hiz naćṛl fes, “I nvr sw sć an î in a man’z hed. It wz az mć az t se: I hv y proprli tept, mî lad. H hd an î lîc a hōc.”

“Nn v ɖ Grez wz eni gd,” sd Mr. Pǎr.

Ɖr wz a pōz agn. Mr. Pǎr trnd t Msz Crnn n sd wɖ abrupt joviaḷti:

“Wel, Msz Crnn, w’r gwñ t mc yr man hir a gd holi pays n God-firñ Romn Caʈ̇lic.”

H swept hiz arm rnd ɖ cumṗni inclūsivli.

“W’r ol gwñ t mc a rtrit tgɖr n cnfes ǎr sinz—n God nz w wont it badli.”

“I d’nt mînd,” sd Mr. Crnn, smîlñ a litl nrṿsli.

Msz Crnn ʈt it wd b wîzr t cnsil hr saṭsfax́n. So ś sd:

“I piti ɖ pur prīst ɖt hz t lisn t yr têl.”

Mr. Crnn’z xpreśn ćenjd.

“F h dz’nt lîc it,” h sd bluntli, “h cn … d ɖ uɖr ʈñ. I’l jst tel him mî litl têl v wo. I’m nt sć a bad felo——”

Mr. Cunñm inṭvind promtli.

“W’l ol rnǎns ɖ devl,” h sd, “tgɖr, nt fgetñ hiz wrcs n pomps.”

“Gt bhnd m, Setn!” sd Mr. Foġti, lafñ n lcñ at ɖ uɖrz.

Mr. Pǎr sd nʈñ. H flt cmplitli ǎt-genṛld. Bt a plizd xpreśn flicrd acrs hiz fes.

“Ol w hv t d,” sd Mr. Cunñm, “z t stand p wɖ lîtd candlz in ǎr handz n rny ǎr baptizml vǎz.”

“Ǒ, d’nt fget ɖ candl, Tom,” sd Mr. M’Cô, “ẃtvr y d.”

“Ẃt?” sd Mr. Crnn. “Mst I hv a candl?”

“Ǒ yes,” sd Mr. Cunñm.

“No, dám it ol,” sd Mr. Crnn snṣbli, “I drw ɖ lîn ɖr. I’l d ɖ job rît inuf. I’l d ɖ rtritbiznis n cnfeśn, n … ol ɖt biznis. Bt … no candlz! No, dám it ol, I bar ɖ candlz!”

H śc hiz hed wɖ farsicl graṿti.

“Lisn t ɖt!” sd hiz wîf.

“I bar ɖ candlz,” sd Mr. Crnn, conśs v hvñ crietd an ifct on hiz ōdịns n cntinywñ t śec hiz hed t n fro. “I bar ɖ majic-lantn biznis.”

Evrwn laft harṭli.

“Ɖr’z a nîs Caʈ̇lic fr y!” sd hiz wîf.

“No candlz!” rpitd Mr. Crnn objṛtli. “Ɖt’s of!”

Ɖ transept v ɖ Jeźuit Ćrć in Gardinr Strīt wz olmst fl; n stl at evri momnt jntlṃn entrd fṛm ɖ sîd dor n, d’rectd bî ɖ le bruɖr, wōct on tipto alñ ɖ ailz untl ɖe faund sītñ acoṃdeśn. Ɖ jntlṃn wr ol wel drest n ordrli. Ɖ lît v ɖ lamps v ɖ ćrć fél upn an asmbli v blac cloɖz n ẃît coḷrz, rlivd hir n ɖr bî twīdz, on darc motld pilrz v grīn marbl n on l’gubrịs canvsz. Ɖ jntlṃn sat in ɖ bnćz, hvñ hićt ɖer trǎzrz slîtli abv ɖer niz n leid ɖer hats in s’kṛti. Ɖe sat wel bac n gezd forṃli at ɖ distnt spec v red lît ẃć wz sspndd bfr ɖ hî ōltr.

In wn v ɖ bnćz nir ɖ plpit sat Mr. Cunñm n Mr. Crnn. In ɖ bnć bhnd sat Mr. M’Cô alon: n in ɖ bnć bhnd him sat Mr. Pǎr n Mr. Foġti. Mr. M’Cô hd traid unṣxesf̣li t fînd a ples in ɖ bnć wɖ ɖ uɖrz n, ẃn ɖ parti hd setld dǎn in ɖ form v a qincunx, h hd traid unṣxesf̣li t mc comic rmarcs. Az ɖz hd nt bn wel rsivd h hd dzistd. Īvn h wz snṣbl v ɖ decṛs atṃsfir n īvn h bgan t rspond t ɖ rlijs stiḿḷs. In a ẃispr Mr. Cunñm drù Mr. Crnn’z atnśn t Mr. Harf̣d, ɖ munilendr, hu sat sm distns of, n t Mr. Fanñ, ɖ rejstreśn-ejnt n mẹr-mcr v ɖ siti, hu wz sitñ imīɉtli undr ɖ plpit bsd wn v ɖ nyli ilectd cǎnslrz v ɖ word. T ɖ rît sat old Mîcl Grîmz, ɖ ǒnr v ʈri pònbrocr’z śops, n Dan Hogn’z nefy, hu wz p fr ɖ job in ɖ Tǎnclarc’s ofis. Farɖr in frunt sat Mr. Hendric, ɖ ćīf rportr v Ɖ Frīmn’z Jrnl, n pur O’Caṛl, an old frend v Mr. Crnn’z, hu hd bn at wn tîm a cnsidṛbl cmrśl figr. Graɉli, az h rec̣gnîzd fmiłr fesz, Mr. Crnn bgan t fīl mor at hom. Hiz hat, ẃć hd bn rīhbiḷtetd bî hiz wîf, restd upn hiz niz. Wns or twîs h pld dǎn hiz cufs wɖ wn hand ẃl h hld ɖ brim v hiz hat lîtli, bt frmli, wɖ ɖ uɖr hand.

A pǎrfl-lcñ figr, ɖ upr part v ẃć wz drept wɖ a ẃît srplis, wz obzrvd t b struġlñ intu ɖ plpit. Simlteńsli ɖ congṛgeśn unsetld, pṛdyst hanc̣ćīfs n nelt upn ɖm wɖ cer. Mr. Crnn foloud ɖ jenṛl xampl. Ɖ prīst’s figr nǎ std uprît in ɖ plpit, tū-ʈrdz v its bulc, crǎnd bî a masiv red fes, apirñ abv ɖ baḷstred.

Faɖr Prdn nelt dǎn, trnd twdz ɖ red spec v lît n, cuṿrñ hiz fes wɖ hiz handz, preid. Aftr an inṭvl, h uncuvrd hiz fes n rouz. Ɖ congṛgeśn rouz olso n setld agn on its bnćz. Mr. Crnn rstord hiz hat t its orijinl pziśn on hiz ni n prizntd an atntiv fes t ɖ prīćr. Ɖ prīćr trnd bac ć wîd slīv v hiz srplis wɖ an ilabṛt larj jsćr n slǒli sveid ɖ are v fesz. Ɖen h sd:

“Fr ɖ ćildṛn v ɖs wrld r wîzr in ɖer jeṇreśn ɖn ɖ ćildṛn v lît. Ẃr-fr mc untu yrslvz frendz ǎt v ɖ mamn v iniqti so ɖt ẃn y dî ɖe me rsiv y intu eṿlastñ dwelñz.”

Faɖr Prdn dveḷpt ɖ txt wɖ reẓnnt aśuṛns. It wz wn v ɖ most dificlt txts in ol ɖ Scripćrz, h sd, t intrprit proprli. It wz a txt ẃć mt sīm t ɖ caźl obzrvr at verịns wɖ ɖ lofti mraḷti elsẃr prīćt bî Jīzs Crîst. Bt, h tld hiz hírrz, ɖ txt hd sīmd t him speṣ́li adaptd fr ɖ gîdns v ɖoz huz lot it wz t līd ɖ lîf v ɖ wrld n hu yt wśt t līd ɖt lîf nt in ɖ manr v wrldlñz. It wz a txt fr biznisṃn n pṛfeśnl men. Jīzs Crîst, wɖ Hiz dvîn unḍstandñ v evri crani v ǎr hymn nećr, unḍstd ɖt ol men wr nt cōld t ɖ rlijs lîf, ɖt bî far ɖ vast mjoṛti wr forst t liv in ɖ wrld n, t a srtn xtnt, fr ɖ wrld: n in ɖs sntns H dzînd t gv ɖm a wrd v cǎnsl, setñ bfr ɖm az xmpḷrz in ɖ rlijs lîf ɖoz vri wrśiprz v Mamn hu wr v ol men ɖ līst s’lisiṭs in matrz rlijs.

H tld hiz hírrz ɖt h wz ɖr ɖt īvnñ fr no teṛfayñ, no xtraṿgnt prṗs; bt az a man v ɖ wrld spīcñ t hiz felo-men. H cem t spīc t biznisṃn n h wd spīc t ɖm in a bizṇslîc we. F h mt yz ɖ meṭfr, h sd, h wz ɖer spirićl acǎntnt; n h wśt ć n evrwn v hiz hírrz t opn hiz bcs, ɖ bcs v hiz spirićl lîf, n si f ɖe talid akṛtli wɖ conśns.

Jīzs Crîst wz nt a hard tascmastr. H unḍstd ǎr litl felñz, unḍstd ɖ wìcnis v ǎr pur fōḷn nećr, unḍstd ɖ tmteśnz v ɖs lîf. W mt hv hd, w ol hd fṛm tîm t tîm, ǎr tmteśnz: w mt hv, w ol hd, ǎr felñz. Bt wn ʈñ onli, h sd, h wd asc v hiz hírrz. N ɖt wz: t b stret n manli wɖ God. F ɖer acǎnts talid in evri pônt t se:

“Wel, I hv veṛfaid mî acǎnts. I fînd ol wel.”

Bt f, az mt hapn, ɖr wr sm dscrepnsiz, t admit ɖ truʈ, t b franc n se lîc a man:

“Wel, I hv lct intu mî acǎnts. I fînd ɖs roñ n ɖs roñ. Bt, wɖ God’z gres, I wl recṭfî ɖs n ɖs. I wl set rît mî acǎnts.”

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