cattle-market," said Linton, "and I have brought you here
because I saw you 'd not close your eyes till that silly affair was
settled; and here we are now at Dan Hoare's counting-house, the man of
all others to aid us. Follow me; I ought to know the stairs well, in
daylight or dark."

Cautiously following his guide, Cashel mounted a half-rotten, creaky
stair, which passed up between two damp and mildewed walls, and entered
a small chamber whose one window looked out in a dirty court. The only
furniture consisted of two deal chairs and a table, on which various
inscriptions made by penknives betokened the patience and zeal of former
visitors.

Linton passed on to the end of the chamber, where was a narrow door, but
suddenly halted as his eye caught a little slip of paper attached to a
sliding panel, and which bore the word "Engaged." "Ha!" cried he, "one
here already! You see, early as it is, Dan is at work, discounting and
protesting as usual. By the way, I have forgot one essential: he never
gives a stamp, and so I must provide one. Wait for me here; there is
a place in the neighborhood where they can be had, and I 'll be back
presently."

Cashel sat himself down in the cheerless little den, thinking of the
many who might have waited there before, in so many frames of anxiety
and torturing suspense. His own memory could recall a somewhat similar
character in Geiz-heimer, and while he was thus remembering some
features of the past he fell into a reverie, forgetting time and place
together, the sound of voices from the adjoining room serving rather
to lull than arouse his attention. At last a word caught his ear. He
started suddenly, and, looking about him for a second, experienced
almost a difficulty to remember where he was. Could it be possible, or
was it mere fancy? but he believed he heard his name mentioned by some
one within that room. Less caring to know how or by whom the name was
spoken than if the fact were actually so, he leaned forward on his
chair, and bent his ear to listen, when he heard, in a voice louder than
had been used before, the following words:--

"It may be all as you say, sir; I won't pretend to throw a doubt upon
your words; but, as a mere man of business, I may be permitted to say
that this promise, however satisfactory to your friend's feelings, is
not worth a sixpence in law. Corrigan asks for a renewal of his lease,
and the other says, 'Keep your holding,--don't disturb yourself,'--and