est--there can;t be any mistake about it."

From this topic he could not help reverting, as he pursued his way
home, to the hints he had received with respect to Hycy Burke's enemity
towards him, the cause of which he could not clearly understand. Hycy
Burke had, in general, the character of being a generous, dashing
young fellow, with no fault unless a disposition to gallantry and a
thoughtless inclination for extravagance; for such were the gentle
terms in which habits of seduction and an unscrupulous profligacy in
the expenditure of money were clothed by those who at once fleeced and
despised him, but who were numerous enough to impress those opinions
upon a great number of the people. In turning over matters as they stood
between them, he could trace Burke's enemity to no adequate cause;
nor indeed could he believe it possible that he entertained any such
inveterate feeling of hostility against him. They had of late frequently
met, on which occasion Hycy spoke to him with nearly as much cordiality
as ever. Still, however, he could not altogether free himself from
the conviction, that both Clinton and Fethertonge must have had
unquestionable grounds for the hints which they had in such a friendly
way thrown out to him.

In this mood he was proceeding when he heard the noise of horses' feet
behind, and in a few minutes Hycy himself and young Clinton overtook him
at a rapid pace. Their conversation was friendly, as usual, when Bryan,
on seeing Hycy about to dash off at the same rapid rate, said, "If you
are not in a particular hurry, Hycy, I'd wish to have a word with you."

The latter immediately pulled up, exclaiming, "a word, Bryan! ay, a
hundred--certainly. Clinton, ride on a bit, will you? till I have some
conversation with M'Mahon. Well, Bryan?"

"Hycy," proceeded Bryan, "I always like to be aboveboard. Will you allow
me to ask if you have any bad feelings against me?"

"Will you answer me another question?" replied Hycy.

"If I can I will," said Bryan.

"Well, then,"'replied Hycy, "I will answer you most candidly, Bryan--not
the slightest; but I do assure you that I thought you had such a feeling
against me."

"And you wor right, too," returned Bryan "for I really had."

"I remember," proceeded Hycy, "that when I asked you to lend me
thirty-five pounds--and by the way that reminds me that I am still
pretty deep in your debt--you would neither lend it nor give any
satisfactory reason why you refused me;