d for a moment what reply I should make to this coarsely
uttered speech. Had I reflected a little longer, it is possible that
good sense might have prevailed, and taught me how inopportune was
the time for such reprisals; but I was stung by an insult offered in
presence of many others; and in a tone of angry defiance answered,--

"You may discover to your cost, sir, that my right to be here is
somewhat better than your own, and that the day is not very distant when
your presence in this domain will be more surely questioned than is
mine now. Is that name new to you?" And as I spoke I handed him my
card, whereupon, with my name, the ancient arms of my family were also
engraved. A livid paleness suddenly spread over his features as he read
the words, and then as quickly his face became purple red.

"Do you mean," said he, in a voice guttural with passion, "do you mean
to impose upon a man of my stamp with such stupid balderdash as that?
And do you fancy that such a paltry attempt at a cheat will avail you
here? Now, I'll show you how we treat such pretensions without any help
from lawyers. Garvey," cried he, addressing one of the grooms who stood
by, laughing heartily at his master's wit, "Garvey, go in and rouse the
gentlemen; tell them to dress quickly and come downstairs; for I 've
got sport for them. And you, Mick, saddle Ranty for me, and get out the
dogs. Now, Mr. Carew, I like fair play, and so I'll give you fifteen
minutes law. Take the shortest cut you can out of these grounds; for, by
the rock of Cashel, if you 're caught, I would n't be in your skin for a
trifle."

A regular burst of savage laughter from the bystanders met this brutal
speech, and the men scattered in all directions to obey the orders,
while I, overwhelmed with passion, stood motionless in the now deserted
yard. M'Clean himself had entered the house, and it was only when a
signal from one of the grooms attracted my notice that I remarked his
absence.

"This way--this way, sir, and don't lose a second," said the man; "take
that path outside the garden wall, and cross the nursery beyond it. If
you don't make haste, it's all over with you."

"He would n't dare--"

"Would n't he?" said he, stopping me. "It's little you know him. The
dogs themselves has more mercy than himself when his blood is up."

"Get the cob ready for me, Joe," cried a half-dressed man from one of
the upper windows of the house, "and a snaffle bridle, remember."

"Yes,