―You what? says Joe, throwing down the letters. With who?

―With Dignam, says Alf.

―Is it Paddy? says Joe.

―Yes, says Alf. Why?

―Don’t you know he’s dead? says Joe.

―Paddy Dignam dead? says Alf.

―Ay, says Joe.

―Sure I’m after seeing him not five minutes ago, says Alf, as plain as a pikestaff.

―Who’s dead? says Bob Doran.

―You saw his ghost then, says Joe, God between us and harm.