Ireland every year. There's the opening,
one; the King's, two; St. Patrick's, three--"

"I know all that," muttered Tony, discontentedly.

"St. Patrick's, three; and a collar day!" repeated Sam, solemnly.

"Collars, and curs to wear them," growled out Tony, under his breath.

"Ay, a collar day!" and he raised his eyes with a half devotional
expression at these imposing words.

"The Duke will open Parliament in person?" asked Fagan, as a kind of
suggestive hint, which chanced to turn the talk.

"So we mean, sir,--we have always done so. Procession to form in the
Upper Castle Yard at twelve; battle-axes in full dress; Ulster in his
tabard!"

"Yes, yes; I have seen it over and over again," sighed Fagan, wearily.

"Sounds of trumpet in the court--flourish!"

"Flourish, indeed!" sighed Tony; "it's the only thing does flourish in
poor Ireland. Tell me, Sam, has the Court been brilliant lately?"

"We gave two dinners last week--plain dress--bags and swords!"

"And who were the company?"

"Loftus, Lodge, and Morris, Skeffington, Langrishe, and others--Boyle
Roche, the Usher-in-waiting. On Friday, we had Rowley, Charlemont--"

"Lord Charlemont,--did he dine with the Viceroy on Friday last?"

"Yes, sir; and it was the first time we have asked him since the Mutiny
Bill!"

"This is indeed strange, Sam; I scarcely thought he was on such terms
with the Court!"

"We forgive and forget, sir,--we forgive and forget," said Sam, waving
his hand with dignity.

"There was young Carew also."

"Walter Carew, the member for Wicklow?"

"The same--took in Lady Charlotte Carteret--sat next to her Grace, and
spoken to frequently--French wife--much noticed!"

"Is he one of the new converts, then?" asked Fagan, slowly; "is he about
to change the color of his coat?"

"A deep claret, with diamond buttons, jabot, and ruffles, Mechlin
lace--"

"And the Duke, you say, spoke much with him?"

"Repeatedly."

"They talked of politics?"

"We talked of everything."

"And in terms of agreement too?"

"Not about artichokes. Carew likes them in oil,--we always prefer
butter."

"That is a most important difference of opinion," said Tony, with a
sneer.

"We thought nothing of it," said the other, with an air of dignity; "for
shortly after, we accepted an invitation to go down to Castle Carew for
a week."

"To spend a week at Castle Carew?"

"A half state visit."

"With all the tagrag and bobtail of a Court,--the lazy dron