MRS. COTTER (_as she takes the money_)
Will I bring it up-stairs?
HEAD
Erra, don't bother! I'm beginnin' to feel meself again.
[_Fills his pipe until she returns_.
MRS. COTTER (_entering and handing drink_)
Did you bring your overcoat with you, Head?
HEAD
Why so, ma'am?
MRS. COTTER
Because the cold o' the rain is there. I wouldn't
make any delay but go home immediately. You
might get a wettin'.
HEAD (_feeling his tunic_)
This wouldn't leave in a drop o' rain in a hundred
years, ma'am.
[_Knock at door_.
MRS. COTTER
Who's there?
VOICE
Police!
HEAD
Police, did I hear?
MRS. COTTER
'Tis the Sergeant's voice.
HEAD
Glory to be God! I'm ruined! If he finds the smell o'
whiskey from me, he'll tell the Inspector, an' then
Head Constable Mulligan is no more!
MRS. COTTER
Is he as bad as that?
HEAD
He has no conscience at all. He's a friend o' the
Inspector's. (_Knocking continues at door_) Don't open
that door till I tell you--that's if you don't want to
find a corpse on the floor.
MRS. COTTER
Sure, I must open the door.
HEAD
Time enough. He's paid for waitin'. Have you such
a thing as an onion in the house?
MRS. COTTER
I didn't see an onion for the last three weeks.
HEAD (_scratching his head_)
What the blazes will I do? (_Looking towards coal hole_)
Whist! I'm saved.
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