human
Tell me, my good boy, said the magistrate,
gpt
Beghorra, your honor, Bully-dhu didn't want any settin' at all. The minnit he seen the man inside in the kitchen, he stuck in his thrapple at wanst. I knew he'd hould him till I come back, an' I med off for the police.
human
Are you aware, my young champion, that if you set the dog at the deceased you would be guilty of manslaughter at least, if not murder?
gpt
Of murdher, is id? Oh, tare anages, what's this for? Begorra, af that be law it isn't justice. Didn't they tie th' ould masther neck an' heels? Didn't they tie Miss Winny and carry her off to murdher her, or maybe worse? Didn't they tie Biddy Murtagh? and wouldn't they ha' tied me af they could get hoult of me? an' would you want Bully-dhu to sit on his boss, lookin' on at all that, your honor?
human
That may be all true, Jamesy, but I do not think the law would exonerate you, for all that, if you set the dog at the deceased man.
gpt
Well, begorra, I pointed at the man, your honor; but I tell you Bully-dhu wanted no settin' at him at all; af he did I'd have given it to him; and I think the law would onerate me for that same. See here now, your honor. Af th' ould masther had a double-barrel gun, an' shot the two men as dead as mutton that was goin' to tie him up, wouldn't the law be well plaised wid him? and if I had a pistol, an' shot every man iv 'em, wouldn't your honor make a chief iv me at least, instead of sending me to jail? and why wouldn't Bully-dhu, who had on'y a pair of double-barrel tusks, do his part an' help us? I'm feedin' an' taichin' that dog, your honor, since he was a whelp, an' he never disappointed me yet--there now!
human
No, no, reflected the magistrate;
gpt
Well, Jamesy, said he, out of these thoughts,
human
Begorra, your honor, I'll stick to the ould masther and Miss Winny, an' I don't think they're likely to lave this.
gpt
That will do, Jamesy. Come, Mr.----, I think we have taken up almost enough of these poor people's time. We may be going.