as he calls himself."

"Tut, tut!" exclaimed Clinton, disappointed--"so after all, there has
been nothing done?"

"Oh, yes, there has been something done; for instance, all these
matters have been laid before Mr. Vanston, and he has had two or three
interviews with Chevydale, in whose estimation he has exonerated young
M'Mahon from the charge of bribery and ingratitude. Fethertonge holds
such a position now with his employer that an infant's breath would
almost blow him out of his good opinion."

"I'll tell you what, Harry, I think you have it in your power among you
to punish these rogues; and I think, too, it's a pity that Fethertonge
should escape. A breath will dislodge him, you say; but for fear it
should not, we will give him a breeze."

"I am to meet Vanston at Chevydale's by-and-by, uncle. There's to be an
investigation there; and by the way, allow me to bring Hycy's anonymous
letter with me--it may serve an honest man and help to punish a rogue.
What if you would come down with me, and give him the breeze?"

"Well," replied the uncle, "for the novelty of the thing I don't care if
I do. I like, after all, to see a rogue punished, especially when he is
not prepared for it."

After a little delay they repaired to Chevydale's house, armed with
Hycy's anonymous letter to Clinton, as well as with the document which
the old squire, as he was called, had left for Thomas M'Mahon and his
son. They found the two gentlemen on much better terms than one would
have expected; but, in reality, the state of the country was such as
forced them to open their eyes not merely to the folly of harboring mere
political resentments or senseless party prejudices against each other,
but to the absolute necessity that existed for looking closely into the
state of their property, and the deplorable condition to which, if
they did not take judicious and decisive steps, it must eventually be
reduced. They now began to discover a fact which they ought, long since,
to have known--viz.:--that the condition of the people and that of their
property was one and the same--perfectly identical in all things; and
that a poor tenantry never yet existed upon a thriving or independent
estate, or one that was beneficial to the landlord.

Vanston had been with his late opponent for some time before the arrival
of Clinton and his nephew; and, as their conversation may not, perhaps,
be without some interest to our readers, we shall detail a portion of