m. "It's not true. I only want to
have my bed-room to myself, while I get up."

"For once in the way, Mr Lynch, you must manage to get up although your
privacy be intruded on. To tell you the plain truth, I will not leave
you till you come downstairs with me, unless it be in the custody of a
policeman. If you will quietly dress and come downstairs with me, I
trust we may be saved the necessity of troubling the police at all."

Barry, at last, gave way, and, gradually extricating himself from the
bedclothes, put his feet down on the floor, and remained sitting on
the side of his bed. He leaned his head down on his hands, and groaned
inwardly; for he was very sick, and the fumes of last night's punch
still disturbed his brain. His stockings and drawers were on; for
Terry, when he put him to bed, considered it only waste of time to pull
them off, for "shure wouldn't they have jist to go on agin the next
morning?"

"Don't be particular, Mr Lynch: never mind washing or shaving till
we're gone. We won't keep you long, I hope."

"You're very kind, I must say," said Barry. "I suppose you won't object
to my having a bottle of soda water?"--and he gave a terrible tug at
the bell.

"Not at all--nor a glass of brandy in it, if you like it. Indeed, Mr
Lynch, I think that, just at present, it will be the better thing for
you."

Barry got his bottle of soda water, and swallowed about two glasses of
whiskey in it, for brandy was beginning to be scarce with him; and then
commenced his toilet. He took Parson Armstrong's hint, and wasn't very
particular about it. He huddled on his clothes, smoothed his hair with
his brush, and muttering something about it's being their own fault,
descended into the parlour, followed by Mr Armstrong. He made a kind of
bow to Lord Ballindine; took no notice of Martin, but, turning round
sharp on the doctor, said:

"Of all the false ruffians, I ever met, Colligan--by heavens, you're
the worst! There's one comfort, no man in Dunmore will believe a word
you say." He then threw himself back into the easy chair, and said,
"Well, gentlemen--well, my lord--here I am. You can't say I'm ashamed
to show my face, though I must say your visit is not made in the
genteelest manner."

"Mr Lynch," said the parson, "do you remember the night Doctor Colligan
knocked you down in this room? In this room, wasn't it, doctor?"

"Yes; in this room," said the doctor, rather _sotto voce_.

"Do you remember the circumsta