During his stay in the hotel
a large party of huntsmen who came to Cork to participate in a grand
hunt nearby, had a banquet to which he was invited. Paul was made the
hero of the evening and so many were the toasts drank in his honor that
he looked anxiously for a chance to escape the profuse but reckless
hospitality. When an opportunity presented itself he slipped out and
took a long walk in the night air. As he returned to the hotel and
was about to ascend to his room, he could hear his late companions in
one of their hunting songs enjoying themselves. Observing a stalwart
porter connected with the hotel, laboriously bearing one of his late
red-coated entertainers on his back as he mounted the stairs, Paul,
thinking some accident had occurred ran to the porter and asked: "Why,
what is the matter with the gentleman? Is he killed? Has there been
a fight?"
"Oh, no sur, it's wan of the gintlemen, he's only a little overcome. Oi
put thim all to bed this way, yure honor, and moight ave had the
pleasure av puttin' yureself to bed if ye had remained."
With sailor-like recklessness, Boyton never thought of how all this
would end and he spent what money he had freely. One morning before
rising from his bed, he began thinking the situation over.
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