agent, I'm thinking," said Colligan; "so,
good night."

"You'll find you'd a deal better be dealing with me: you'll never find
an easier fellow to deal with, or one who'll put a better thing in your
way."

Colligan again sat down. He couldn't quite make Barry out: he suspected
he was planning some iniquity, but he couldn't tell what; and he
remained silent, looking full into the other's face till he should go
on. Barry winced under the look, and hesitated; but at last he screwed
himself up to the point, and said,

"One word, between two friends, is as good as a thousand. If Anty
dies of this bout, you shall have the fifty acres, with a lease for
perpetuity, at sixpence an acre. Come, that's not a high figure, I
think."

"What?" said Colligan, apparently not understanding him, "a lease for
perpetuity at how much an acre?"

"Sixpence--a penny--a pepper-corn--just anything you please. But it's
all on Anty's dying. While she's alive I can do nothing for the best
friend I have."

"By the Almighty above us," said the doctor, almost in a whisper, "I
believe the wretched man means me to murder her--his own sister!"

"Murder?--Who talked or said a word of murder?" said Barry, with a
hoarse and croaking voice--"isn't she dying as she is?--and isn't she
better dead than alive? It's only just not taking so much trouble to
keep the life in her; you're so exceeding clever you know!"--and he
made a ghastly attempt at smiling. "With any other doctor she'd have
been dead long since: leave her to herself a little, and the farm's
your own; and I'm sure there'll 've been nothing at all like murder
between us."

"By Heavens, he does!"--and Colligan rose quickly from his seat "he
means to have her murdered, and thinks to make me do the deed! Why, you
vile, thieving, murdering reptile!" and as he spoke the doctor seized
him by the throat, and shook him violently in his strong grasp--"who
told you I was a fit person for such a plan? who told you to come to
me for such a deed? who told you I would sell my soul for your paltry
land?"--and he continued grasping Barry's throat till he was black in
the face, and nearly choked. "Merciful Heaven! that I should have sat
here, and listened to such a scheme! Take care of yourself," said he;
and he threw him violently backwards over the chairs--"if you're to be
found in Connaught to-morrow, or in Ireland the next day, I'll hang
you!"--and so saying, he hurried out of the room, and went home.