Part 6

_Nestor:_ One Joseph Nestor I am, there are few in the district but know me. Indeed they all have a great opinion of me. Travelled I did in the army, and attended school and I young, and slept in the one bed with two boys that were learning Greek.

_Cooney:_ What way now can I be rightly sure that you are Joseph Nestor?

_Nestor:_ (_Pulling out envelope._) There is my pension docket. You will maybe believe that.

_Cooney:_ (_Examining it._) I suppose you may be him so. I saw your name often before this.

_Nestor:_ Did you now? I suppose it may have travelled a good distance.

_Cooney:_ It travelled as far as myself anyway at the bottom of letters that were written asking relief for the owner of this house.

_Nestor:_ I suppose you are her brother so, Michael Cooney?

_Cooney:_ If I am, there are some questions that I want to put and to get answers to before my mind will be satisfied. Tell me this now. Is it a fact Mary Broderick to be living at all?

_Nestor:_ What would make you think her not to be living and she sending letters to you through the post?

_Cooney:_ I was saying to myself with myself, there was maybe some other one personating her and asking me to send relief for their own ends.

_Nestor:_ I am in no want of any relief. That is a queer thing to say and a very queer thing. There are many worse off than myself, the Lord be praised!

_Cooney:_ Don't be so quick now starting up to take offence. It is hard to believe the half the things you hear or that will be told to you.

_Nestor:_ That may be so indeed; unless it is things that would be printed on the papers. But I would think you might trust one of your own blood.

_Cooney:_ I might or I might not. I had it in my mind this long time to come hither and to look around for myself. There are seven generations of the Cooneys trusted nobody living or dead.

_Nestor:_ Indeed I was reading in some history of one Ulysses that came back from a journey and sent no word before him but slipped in unknown to all but the house dog to see was his wife minding the place, or was she, as she was, scattering his means.

_Cooney:_ So she would be too. If Mary Broderick is in need of relief I will relieve her, but if she is not, I will bring away what I brought with me to its own place again.

_Nestor:_ Sure here is the summons. You can read that, and if you will look out the door you can see by the stir the Magistrates are sitting in the Court. It is a great welcome she will have before you, and the relief coming at the very nick of time.

_Cooney:_ It is too good a welcome she will give me I am thinking. It is what I am in dread of now, if she thinks I brought her the money so soft and so easy, she will never be leaving me alone, but dragging all I have out of me by little and little.

_Nestor:_ Maybe you might let her have but the lend of it.

_Cooney:_ Where's the use of calling it a lend when I may be sure I never will see it again? It might be as well for me to earn the value of a charity.

_Nestor:_ You might do that and not repent of it.

_Cooney:_ It is likely I'll be annoyed with her to the end of my lifetime if she knows I have as much as that to part with. It might be she would be following me to Limerick.

_Nestor:_ Wait now a minute till I will give you an advice.

_Cooney:_ It is likely my own advice is the best. Look over your own shoulder and do the thing you think right. How can any other person know the reasons I have in my mind?

_Nestor:_ I will know what is in your mind if you will tell it to me.

_Cooney:_ It would suit me best, she to get the money and not to know at the present time where did it come from. The next time she will write wanting help from me, I will task her with it and ask her to give me an account.

_Nestor:_ That now would take a great deal of strategy.... Wait now till I think.... I have it in my mind I was reading in a penny novel ... no but on the "Gael" ... about a boy of Kilbecanty that saved his old sweetheart from being evicted.

_Cooney:_ I never heard my sister had any old sweetheart.

_Nestor:_ It was playing Twenty-five he did it. Played with the husband he did, letting him win up to fifty pounds.

_Cooney:_ Mary Broderick was no cardplayer. And if she was itself she would know me. And it's not fifty pounds I am going to leave with her, or twenty pounds, or a penny more than is needful to free her from the summons to-day.

_Nestor:_ (_Excited._) I will make up a plan! I am sure I will think of a good one. It is given in to me there is no person so good at making up a plan as myself on this side of the world, not on this side of the world! I will manage all. Leave here what you have for her before she will come in. I will give it to her in some secret way.

_Cooney:_ I don't know. I will not give it to you before I will get a receipt for it ... and I'll not leave the town till I'll see did she get it straight and fair. Into the Court I'll go to see her paying it.

(_Sits down and writes out receipt._)

_Nestor:_ I was reading on "Home Chat" about a woman put a note for five pounds into her son's prayer book and he going a voyage. And when he came back and was in the church with her it fell out, he never having turned a leaf of the book at all.

_Cooney:_ Let you sign this and you may put it in the prayer book so long as she will get it safe. (_Nestor signs. Cooney looks suspiciously at signature and compares it with a letter and then gives notes._)

_Nestor:_ (_Signing._) Joseph Nestor.

_Cooney:_ Let me see now is it the same handwriting I used to be getting on the letters. It is. I have the notes here.

_Nestor:_ Wait now till I see is there a prayer book.... (_Looks on shelf_). Treacle, castor oil, marmalade.... I see no books at all.

_Cooney:_ Hurry on now, she will be coming in and finding me.

_Nestor:_ Here is what will do as well.... "Old Moore's Almanac." I will put it here between the leaves. I will ask her the prophecy for the month. You can come back here after she finding it.

_Cooney:_ Amn't I after telling you I wouldn't wish her to have sight of me here at all? What are you at now, I wonder, saying that. I will take my own way to know does she pay the money. It is not my intention to be made a fool of.

(_Goes out._)

_Nestor:_ You will be satisfied and well satisfied. Let me see now where are the predictions for the month. (_Reads._) "The angry appearance of Scorpio and the position of the pale Venus and Jupiter presage much danger for England. The heretofore obsequious Orangemen will refuse to respond to the tocsin of landlordism. The scales are beginning to fall from their eyes."

(_Mrs. Broderick comes in without his noticing her. She gives a groan. He drops book and stuffs notes into his pocket._)

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Here I am back again and no addition to me since I went.

_Nestor:_ You gave me a start coming in so noiseless.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ It is time for me go to the Court, and I give you my word I'd be better pleased going to my burying at the Seven Churches. A nice slab I have there waiting for me, though the man that put it over me I never saw him at all, and he a far off cousin of my own.

_Nestor:_ Who knows now, Mrs. Broderick, but things might turn out better than you think.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ What way could they turn out better between this and one o'clock?

_Nestor:_ (_Scratching his head._) I suppose now you wouldn't care to play a game of Twenty-five?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ I am surprised at you, Mr. Nestor, asking me to go cardplaying on such a day and at such an hour as this.

_Nestor:_ I wonder might some person come in and give an order for ten pounds' worth of the stock?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Much good it would do me. Sure I have the most of it on credit.

_Nestor:_ Well, there is no knowing. Some well-to-do person now passing the street might have seen you and taken a liking to you and be willing to make an advance or a loan.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Ah, who would be taking a liking to me as they might to a young girl in her bloom.

_Nestor:_ Oh, it's a sort of thing might happen. Sure age didn't catch on to you yet; you are clean and fresh and sound. What's this I was reading in "Answers." (_Looks at it._) "Romantic elopement...."

_Mrs. Broderick:_ I know of no one would be thinking of me for a wife ... unless it might be yourself, Mr. Nestor....

_Nestor:_ (_Jumping up and speaking fast and running finger up and down paper._) "Performance of Dick Whittington." ... There now, there is a story that I read in my reading, it was called Whittington and the Cat. It was the cat led to his fortune. There might some person take a fancy to your cat....

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Ah, let you have done now. I have no cat this good while. I banished it on the head of it threatening the jackdaw.

_Nestor:_ The jackdaw?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ (_Fetches cage from inner room._) Sure I reared it since the time it fell down the chimney and I going into my bed. It is often you should have seen it, in or out of its cage. Hero his name is. Come out now, Hero.

(_Opens cage._)

_Nestor:_ (_Slapping his side._) That is it ... that's the very thing. Listen to me now, Mrs. Broderick, there are some might give a good price for that bird. (_Sitting down to the work._) It chances now there is a friend of mine in South Africa. A mine owner he is ... very rich ... but it is down in the mine he has to live by reason of the Kaffirs ... it is hard to keep a watch upon them in the half dark, they being black.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ I suppose....

_Nestor:_ He does be lonesome now and again, and he is longing for a bird to put him in mind of old Ireland ... but he is in dread it would die in the darkness ... and it came to his mind that it is a custom with jackdaws to be living in chimneys, and that if any birds would bear the confinement it is they that should do it.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ And is it to buy jackdaws he is going?

_Nestor:_ Isn't that what I am coming to. (_He pulls out notes._) Here now is ten pounds I have to lay out for him. Take them now and good luck go with them, and give me the bird.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Notes is it? Is it waking or dreaming I am and I standing up on the floor?

_Nestor:_ Good notes and ten of them. Look at them! National Bank they are.... Count them now, according to your fingers, and see did I tell any lie.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ (_Counting._) They are in it sure enough ... so long as they are good ones and I not made a hare of before the magistrates.

_Nestor:_ Go out now to the Court and show them to Timothy Ward, and see does he say are they good. Pay them over then, and its likely you will be let off the costs.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ (_Taking shawl._) I will go, I will go. Well, you are a great man and a kind man, Joseph Nestor, and that you may live a thousand years for this good deed.

_Nestor:_ Look here now, ma'am, I wouldn't wish you to be mentioning my name in this business or saying I had any hand in it at all.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ I will not so long as it's not pleasing to you. Well, it is yourself took a great load off me this day! (_She goes out._)

_Nestor:_ (_Calling after her._) I might as well be putting the jackdaw back into the cage to be ready for the journey. (_Comes into shop._) I hope now he will be well treated by the sailors and he travelling over the sea.... Where is he now.... (_Chirrups._) Here now, come here to me, what's this your name is.... Nero! Nero! (_Makes pounces behind counter._) Ah, bad manners to you, is it under the counter you are gone!

(_Lies flat on the floor chirruping and calling, Nero! Nero! Nally comes in and watches him curiously._)

_Nally:_ Is it catching blackbeetles you are, Mr. Nestor? Where are they and I will give you a hand....

_Nestor:_ (_Getting up annoyed._) It's that bird I was striving to catch a hold of for to put him back in the cage.

_Tommy Nally:_ (_Making a pounce._) There he is now. (_Puts bird in cage._) Wait now till I'll fasten the gate.

_Nestor:_ Just putting everything straight and handy for the widow woman I am before she will come back from the settlement she is making in the Court.

_Nally:_ What way will she be able to do that?

_Nestor:_ I gave her advice. A thought I had, something that came from my reading. (_Taps paper._) Education and reading and going in the army through the kingdoms of the world; that is what fits a man now to be giving out advice.

_Tommy:_ Indeed, it's good for them to have you, all the poor ignorant people of this town.

_Cooney:_ (_Coming in hurriedly and knocking against Nally as he goes out._) What, now, would you say to be the best nesting place in this town. Nests of jackdaws I should say.

_Nestor:_ There is the old mill should be a good place. To the west of the station it is. Chimneys there are in it. Middling high they are. Wait now till I'll tell you of the great plan I made up....

_Cooney:_ What are you asking for those rakes in the corner? It's no matter, I'll take one on credit, or maybe it is only the lend of it I'll take. ... I'll be coming back immediately. (_He goes out with rake._)

_Sibby:_ (_Coming in excitedly._) If you went bird-catching, Mr. Nestor, tell me what way would you go doing it?

_Nestor:_ It is not long since I was reading some account of that ... lads that made a trade of it ... nets they had and they used to be spreading them in the swamps where the plover do be feeding....

_Sibby:_ Ah, sure where's the use of a plover!

_Nestor:_ And snares they had for putting along the drains where the snipe do be picking up worms.... But if I myself saw any person going after things of the sort, it is what I would advise them to stick to the net.

_Sibby:_ What now is the price of that net in the corner?

_Nestor:_ (_Taking it down._) It is but a little bag that is, suitable for carrying small articles; it would become your oranges well. Twopence I believe, Sibby, is what I should charge you for that.

_Sibby:_ (_Taking money out of handkerchief._) Give it to me so! Here I'll get the start of you, Timothy Ward, anyway.

(_She takes it and goes out, almost overturning Timothy Ward, who is rushing in._)

_Nestor:_ Well, Timothy, did you see the Widow Broderick in the Court?

_Ward:_ I did see her. It is in it she is, now, looking as content as in the coffin, and she paying her debt.

_Nestor:_ Did she give you any account of herself?

_Ward:_ She did to be sure, and to the whole Court; but look here now, I have no time to be talking. I have to be back there when the magistrates will have their lunch taken. Now you being so clever a man, Mr. Nestor, what would you say is the surest way to go catching birds?

_Nestor:_ It is a strange thing now, I was asked the same question not three minutes ago. I was just searching my mind. It seems to me I have read in some place it is a very good way to go calling to them with calls; made for the purpose they are. You have but to sit under a tree or whatever place they may perch and to whistle ... suppose now it might be for a curlew.... (_Whistles._)

_Timothy Ward:_ Are there any of those calls in the shop?

_Nestor:_ I would not say there are any made for the purpose, but there might be something might answer you all the same. Let me see now.... (_Gets down a box of musical toys and turns them over._)

_Ward:_ Is there anything now has a sound like the croaky screech of a jackdaw?

_Nestor:_ Here now is what we used to be calling a corncrake.... (_Turns it_.) Corncrake, corncrake ... but it seems to me now that to give it but the one creak, this way ... it is much like what you would hear in the chimney at the time of the making of the nests.

_Ward:_ Give it here to me!

(_Puts a penny on counter and runs out._)

_Tommy Nally:_ (_Coming in shaking with excitement._) For the love of God, Mr. Nestor, will you give me that live-trap on credit!

_Nestor:_ A trap? Sure there is no temptation for rats to be settling themselves in the Workhouse.

_Nally:_ Or a snare itself ... or any sort of a thing that would make the makings of a crib.

_Nestor:_ What would you want, I wonder, going out fowling with a crib?

_Nally:_ Why wouldn't I want it? Why wouldn't I have leave to catch a bird the same as every other one?

_Nestor:_ And what would the likes of you be wanting with a bird?

_Nally:_ What would I want with it, is it? Why wouldn't I be getting my own ten pounds?

_Nestor:_ Heaven help your poor head this day!

_Nally:_ Why wouldn't I get it the same as Mrs. Broderick got it?

_Nestor:_ Well, listen to me now. You will not get it.

_Nally:_ Sure that man is buying them will have no objection they to come from one more than another.

_Nestor:_ Don't be arguing now. It is a queer thing for you, Tommy Nally, to be arguing with a man like myself.

_Nally:_ Think now all the good it would do me ten pound to be put in my hand! It is not you should be begrudging it to me, Mr. Nestor. Sure it would be a relief upon the rates.

_Nestor:_ I tell you you will not get ten pound or any pound at all. Can't you give attention to what I say?

_Nally:_ If I had but the price of the trap you wouldn't refuse it to me. Well, isn't there great hardship upon a man to be bet up and to have no credit in the town at all.

_Nestor:_ (_Exasperated, and giving him the cage._) Look here now, I have a right to turn you out into the street. But, as you are silly like and with no great share of wits, I will make you a present of this bird till you try what will you get for it, and till you see will you get as much as will cover its diet for one day only. Go out now looking for customers and maybe you will believe what I say.

_Nally:_ (_Seizing it._) That you may be doing the same thing this day fifty years! My fortune's made now! (_Goes out with cage._)

_Nestor:_ (_Sitting down._) My joy go with you, but I'm bothered with the whole of you. Everyone expecting me to do their business and to manage their affairs. That is the drawback of being an educated man!

(_Takes up paper to read._)

_Mrs. Broderick:_ (_Coming in._) I declare I'm as comforted as Job coming free into the house from the Court!

_Nestor:_ Well, indeed, ma'am, I am well satisfied to be able to do what I did for you, and for my friend from Africa as well, giving him so fine and so handsome a bird.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ Sure Finn himself that chewed his thumb had not your wisdom, or King Solomon that kept order over his kingdom and his own seven hundred wives. There is neither of them could be put beside you for settling the business of any person at all.

(_Sibby comes in holding up her netted bag._)

_Nestor:_ What is it you have there, Sibby?

_Sibby:_ Look at them here, look at them here.... I wasn't long getting them. Warm they are yet; they will take no injury.

_Mrs. Broderick:_ What are they at all?

_Sibby:_ It is eggs they are ... look at them. Jackdaws' eggs.

_Nestor:_ (_Suspiciously._) And what call have you now to be bringing in jackdaws' eggs?

_Sibby:_ Is it ten pound apiece I will get for them do you think, or is it but ten pound I will get for the whole of them?

_Nestor:_ Is it drink, or is it tea, or is it some change that is come upon the world that is fitting the people of this place for the asylum in Ballinasloe?

_Sibby:_ I know of a good clocking hen. I will put the eggs under her.... I will rear them when they'll be hatched out.

_Nestor:_ I suppose now, Mrs. Broderick, you went belling the case through the town?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ I did not, but to the Magistrates upon the bench that I told it out of respect to, and I never mentioned your name in it at all.

_Sibby:_ Tell me now, Mrs. Broderick, who have I to apply to?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ What is it you are wanting to apply about?

_Sibby:_ Will you tell me where is the man that is after buying your jackdaw?

_Mrs. Broderick:_ (_Looking at Nestor._) What's that? Where is he, is it?

_Nestor:_ (_Making signs of silence._) How would you know where he is? It is not in a broken little town of this sort such a man would be stopping, and he having his business finished.

_Sibby:_ Sure he will have to be coming back here for the bird. I will stop till I'll see him drawing near.

_Nestor:_ It is more likely he will get it consigned to the shipping agent. Mind what I say now, it is best not be speaking of him at all.

(_Timothy Ward comes in triumphantly, croaking his toy. He has a bird in his hand._)