―Ask him, he said.
The fellows looked there and then said:
―Why him?
―Is he in it?
Athy lowered his voice and said:
―Do you know why those fellows scut? I will tell you but you must not let on you know.
―Tell us, Athy. Go on. You might if you know.
He paused for a moment and then said mysteriously:
―They were caught with Simon Moonan and Tusker Boyle in the square one night.
The fellows looked at him and asked:
―Caught?
―What doing?
Athy said:
―Smugging.
All the fellows were silent: and Athy said:
―And that’s why.
Stephen looked at the faces of the fellows but they were all looking across the playground. He wanted to ask somebody about it. What did that mean about the smugging in the square? Why did the five