stop just a moment and I will show you a
document that may be of some value to them. You see, Fethertonge, in
order to enhance the value of his generosity to myself, or, to come
nearer the truth, the value of Ahadarra, was the means of placing a
document, which I will immediately show you, in my hands."

He went to his office or study, and, after some search, returned
and handed the other a written promise of the leases of Ahadarra and
Carriglass, respectively, to Thomas M'Mahon and his son Bryan, at a
certain reasonable rent offered by each for their separate holdings.

"Now," he proceeded, "there's a document which proves Fethertonge,
notwithstanding his knavery, to be an ass; otherwise he would have
reduced it to ashes long ago; and, perhaps, after having turned it to
his account, he would have done so, were it not that I secured it. Old
Chevydale, it appears, not satisfied with giving his bare word, strove,
the day before he died, to reduce his promise about the lease to
writing, which he did, and entrusted it to the agent for the M'Mahons,
to whom, of course, it was never given."

"But what claim had you to it, uncle?"

"Simply, if he and I should ever come to a misunderstanding, that I
might let him know he was in my power, by exposing his straightforward
methods of business; that's all. However, about the web that this fellow
Burke has thrown around these unfortunate devils the M'Mahons, and those
other mighty matters that you told of, let me hear exactly what it is
all about and how they stand. You say there is likely to be hanging or
transportation among them."

"Why, the circumstances, sir, are these, as nearly as I am in possession
of them:--There is or was, at least a day or two ago, a very pretty
girl--"

"Ay, ay--no fear but there must be that in it; go along."

"A very pretty girl, named Nanny Peety, a servant in old Jemmy Burke's,
Hycy's father. It appears that his virtuous son Hycy tried all the
various stratagems of which he is master to debauch the morals of this
girl, but without success. Her virtue was incorruptible."

"Ahem! get along, will you, and pass that over."

"Well, I know that's another of your crotchets, uncle; but no matter, I
should be sorry, from respect to my mother's memory, to agree with you
there: however to proceed; this Nanny Peety at length--that is about a
week ago--was obliged to disclose to her father the endless persecution
which she had to endure at the hands of H