r not, therefore, out of Ahadarra he goes; and, when he
does, I have a good tenant to put in his place."

M'Mahon's blood boiled on hearing this language, and he inwardly swore
that, let the consequences be what they might, a vote of his should
never go to the support of such a man.

Again we return to Hycy Burke, who, when the day of the great struggle
arrived, rode after breakfast on that same morning into Ballymacan, and
inquired at the post-office if there were any letters for him.

"No," replied the postmaster; "but, if you see Bryan M'Mahon, tell him
I have here one for him, from Major Vanston--it's his frank and his
handwriting."

"I'm going directly to him," said Hycy, "and will bring it to him; so
you had better hand it here."

The postmaster gave him the letter, and in a few minutes Hycy was on his
way home with as much speed as his horse was capable of making.

"Nanny," said he, calling upon Nanny Peety, when he had put his horse in
the stable and entered the parlor, "will you fetch me a candle and some
warm water?"

"Yes, sir," said Nanny; "but you must wait till I boil some, for there's
none hot."

"Be quick, then," said he, "for I'm in a devil of a hurry. Shut the door
after you, I say. What is the reason that you never do so, often as I
have spoken to you about it?"

"Becaise it's never done," she replied; "nobody ever bids me shut it but
yourself, an' that's what makes me forget it."

"Well, I'll thank you," he said, "to pay more attention to what I say
to you I have reason to think you both intrusive and ungrateful, Nanny;
and, mark, unless you show me somewhat more submission, madam, you shall
pitch your camp elsewhere. It was I brought you here."

"Ax your own conscience why, Mr. Hycy."

"Begone now and get me the hot water," he said, with a frown of anger
and vexation, heightened probably by the state of agitation into which
the possession of Vanston's letter had already put him.

We shall not follow him through all the ingenious and dishonorable
manoeuvres by which he got the communication safely open-ed; it is
enough to say that, in the course of a few minutes, he was enabled to
peruse the contents of Vanston's communication, which were as follows:--

Sir,--I beg to enclose you a letter which I received yesterday from the
Secretary to the Board of Excise, and to assure you that I feel much
pleasure in congratulating you upon its contents, and the satisfactory
result of your memoria