slowly swinging it backwards and forwards, and seemed much engaged in observing its motions. "You," resumed Sir Thomas; "and I require to know your name."

"Why, then, by the hokey-farmer, it's not so asy to come to that, as your honour thinks; becase it's not so asy for a body to tell his name when he has such plenty iv them; for, some, times they calls me one thing, sometimes another; an' which is which, I lave themselves to say."

"By what name were you baptized ?"

"Oh, ay! why, then, I b'lieve it's one Terry Mahaffy they chrishened me, if I was chrishened at all-an' I'm amost clane sure that I don't remember whether I was or no."

"What means this fooling, sirrah ?”

66

Fooling! faith, then, if your honour was goin' to condemn me for a fool, you'd never get my neck in the noose.'

"Why act thus, Will ?" interposed Talbot ; "cannot you answer the question directly ?"

"An' so I did; an' do you answer it betther, if you know how, Capt'n. I'd be glad to be tould what's the rason iv axin' me any questions at all?"

"Send him out to Saunders," prescribed the magisterial umpire," and you'll find him more talkative in a minute or two."

66

Maybe some o' ye 'ud say it's too mooch talk I have, afore you've done wid me," said Bill. "Answer me positively to your name, man,” rejoined Sir Thomas.

"If you don't like the name I tould your honour, I'll give you your pick-an'-choose in five more. But what's the use o' my name? can't you ax about the thing your honour wants to know ?"

"Well, then, Mr. Talbot, has given you as his authority, for stating that Sir William Judkin is already a married man. You will tell the name and family of his wife, and where she can be heard of."

"An' square Capt'n Talbot says, I tould him, that his honour, Sir William Judkin, was married ?" demanded Nale very deliberately. "Such is his assertion."

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Why, then, by the livin' farmer, I tould him no sich thing."

"How!" exclaimed the young Baronet. "Villain!" roared Talbot, losing all his former self-command,-"execrable villain! is it thus you betray me ?"

"Bother, Capt'n, there's no use in balourin'* this way; an' won't tell a lie to plase any body -barrin' myself."

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"Gracious heavens, Henry Talbot!" said Sir Thomas, now deficient in his last link of anticipations, can this be possible? You have not even the word of this wretch for your assertion? and what are we to say, or think?"

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By the Judge above me!" shouted Talbot, "he utters the veriest falsehood that ever fell from villain's mouth."

"Hah! does your honour hear the poor young Capt'n now ?”

"Our inquiry has ended," resumed Sir Thomas; 66 ended, so far as concerns you, Sir William, as I expected; but, as concerns you, Mr. Talbot, noi as I expected.

young man, I pity you."

66

Misguided

Keep your pity for those who seek or require it, Sir Thomas; keep it for yourself. As to yon high-crested braggart, this, indeed, is his day of triumph; but mine will come-will come!" he repeated, raising his voice, and stamping vehemently," the day when, for his acts to others, as well as for his words to me, I shall * Making a noise.

crush him, thus !-thus !-beneath my feet! -And, Sir Thomas Hartley, the day that will make you think of this day with horror! No more now. My presence here is not longer necessary ;-good-morning, Captain Whaley!" And the baffled rival of Sir William rushed, almost foaming, out of the room.

"Hah!" still laughed Bill; his chuckle coming in, amid the storm of human passion, like that of a malicious fiend.

"Be d-d!" remarked Captain Whaley; "for as loyal a man as he is, Talbot has got through this business most shamefully."

"And now, Captain," resumed Sir Thomas, "we have to prefer a more serious charge against this person," pointing to Nale.

"There isn't a thought of his mind I won't know, in a hand's turn," said the Captain.

"Faith, your honour! an' if that comes to pass, you'll know more than people 'ud think by lookin' at me.”

"Sir William Judkin, Sir, was set upon last night by three fellows, who dragged him from his horse, bound him hand and foot, robbed, and threatened to murder him."

"An' so he was," observed Nale; "an' I tell

you he had a great escape; 'twas ten chances to one between a grave an' a feather-bed for him last night."

Sir Thomas stared at the fellow, who thus seemed preparing to admit the coming accusation against him.

"Sir William himself has not spoken to the identity of any of the parties

"Not yet," interrupted Sir William, "but hear me now. This morning I had not a notion on the subject; yet, since we have been introduced to the person before us, impressions made upon me at the moment of the outrage, and since forgotten, are called up by his appearance, voice, and manner; and, at present, I am morally assured he was one of the assassins."

"Why, then, I was only wondherin' what kept your honour's memory back so long," said Nale: and perhaps, recollecting all that has passed, the readers will join in Bill's astonishment. "I came up by accident, Captain Whaley," said Mr. Rourke, "just in time to give help: two of the ruffians attacked me, and one of them is, I believe, now before me."

"Hah!" put in Bill, "only for your reverence, and your good four bones, it's a thruth