l the advantages I can show from the
opposite course."

"They are, sir, very strong reasons, nor do I deem it necessary to
advert to them again; enough that I esteem them sufficient."

"Of course, my Lord, I never dreamed of calling them in question; they
must needs be cogent arguments which counterpoise the opposite scale--a
high diplomatic career--a representative peerage--this there could be no
doubt of."

"How do you mean?" broke in Kilgoff, abruptly.

"Simply that this young man becomes your trump card, if you only please
to take him up. As yet he has resisted the advances made by Downie Meek
and his set, because of my watchfulness; but sooner or later some
party will catch him, and when one thinks how few men with a large
unencumbered fortune we possess here, with a great county interest, two
boroughs, for he owns Knockgarvan as well, the prize is really worth
having, particularly as it only needs the stretching out the hand to
take."

Lord Kilgoff mused and seemed to ponder over the words. He entertained
small doubts of his "friend" Linton's capacity; but he had very
considerable suspicions of his principles, and it is a strange fact that
people willing to commit very gross breaches of fair dealing themselves
are exceedingly scrupulous respecting the fair fame of their associates
in iniquity, so admirably accommodating is a worldly conscience!

"Well, sir," said he, at length, "the price--name the price. What are we
to pay for the article?--that is the question."

"I have said, my Lord, it is to be had for asking. Your Lordship has
only to take the territory, as our naval men do the chance islands they
meet with in the Southern Pacific. Land and plant your flag--_voila
tout!_"

"But you have heard me observe already," said he, in a querulous tone,
"that I dislike the prospect of this visit--that in fact it would be
exceedingly disagreeable to me."

"Then I have nothing more to say, my Lord," said Linton, coolly, while
he took up his hat and gloves. "I can only congratulate you on the
excellence of your political prospects, which can dispense with a strong
alliance to be had so easily."

"Our measures of value are very different, Mr. Linton," said Lord
Kilgoff, proudly. "Still, to prove that this is no caprice on my
part,"--here he stopped abruptly, while his heightened color showed the
degree of embarrassment he labored under,--"to show you that I have--in
order to explain my motives--" Here he took