Page:The Snake's Pass (Stoker).djvu/175

 "From information received A come to talk till ye regardin' the interest ye, profess to take in moonlichtin'."

"What on earth do you mean?" I asked.

"A hear ye're a stranger in these parts—an' as ye might take away a wrong impression weth ye—A thenk it ma duty to tell ye that the people round here are nothin' more nor less than leears—an' that ye mustn't believe a sengle word they say."

"Really," said I, "I am quite in the dark. Do try and explain. Tell me what it is all about."

"Why, A larn that ye're always out at nicht all over the country, and that ye've openly told people here that ye're interested in moon-lichtin'."

"My dear sir, some one is quite mad! I never said such a thing—indeed, I don't know anything about moon-lighting."

"Then why do ye go out at nicht?"

"Simply to see the country at night—to look at the views—to enjoy effects of moonlight."

"There ye are, ye see—ye enjoy the moonlicht effect."

"Good lord! I mean the view—the purely æsthetic effect—the chiaroscuro—the pretty pictures!"

"Oh, aye! A see now—A ken weel! Then A needn't trouble ye further. But let ma tell ye that it's a dangerous practice to walk out be nicht. There's many a man in these parts watched and laid for. Why in Knockcalltecrore there's one man that's in danger all the time. An' as for ye—why ye'd better be careful