ot so his wife. She inveighed
powerfully against the dangerous intimacy of Linton, and the ruinous
consequences such an ascendancy would lead to. "You should tell Mr.
Cashel who this man is," said she, imperiously.

"But that is exactly what nobody knows," meekly responded Mr. Kennyfeck.

"Pshaw! every one knows all about him. You can tell him how he
ruined young Rushbrook, and in less than two years left him without a
shilling."

Mr. Kennyfeck shook his head, as though to say that the evidence was by
no means conclusive on that count.

"Yes, you may affect not to believe it," said she, angrily, "but did
n't George Lawson see the check for eight thousand paid to Linton at La
touche's bank, and that was one evening's work."

"There was a great deal of high play, I 've heard, among them."

"Oh, indeed! you've heard that much," said she, scornfully; "probably,
too, you've heard how Linton paid seventy thousand pounds for part of
the Dangwood estate,--he that had not sixpence three months previous. I
tell you, Mr. Kennyfeck, that you have labored to very little purpose
to establish this young man's claim if you are to stand by and see
his property portioned among sharpers. There! don't start and look so
frightened; there 's nobody listening, and if there were, too, I don't
care. I tell you, Mr. Kennyfeck, that if it weren't for your foolish
insufficiency Cashel would propose for Olivia. Yes! the thing is plain
as possible. He fell in love with her the very night he arrived; every
one saw it. Jane Lyons told me how it was remarked the day the company
dined here. Leonard told all over Dublin how she chose the diamonds,
and that Cashel distinctly referred to her before buying them. Then
they were seen together driving through the streets. What more would you
have? And now you suffer all this to be undone for the selfish objects
of Mr. Linton; but I tell you, Mr. Kennyfeck, if you 're a fool, I am
not!"

"But really I don't see--"

"You don't see! I'm sure you do not. You'd see, however, if it were a
case for an action in the courts,--a vulgar appeal to twelve greasy
jurors,--you 'd see then. There is quite enough for a shabby verdict!
But I regard the affair very differently, and I tell you frankly, if
I see Cashel draw off in his attentions, I 'll send for my cousin
O'Gorman. I believe you can assure your young client that he 'll find
there's no joking with him."

Now this was the "most unkindest cut of all;" for i