ead packet, is open
to all comers, and the consequence is, his parties are by far the
pleasantest thing going. One has such strange rencontres, sees such odd
people, hears such droll things; for, besides having everything like a
character in the city, the very gravest of Mr. Rooney's guests seems to
feel his house as a place to relax and unbend in. Thus, I should not be
the least surprised to see the Chief-Justice and the Attorney-General
playing small plays, nor the Bishop of Cork dancing Sir Roger de
Coverley.'

'Glorious fun, by Jove! But why are you not there, lads? Ah, I see;
on duty. I wish you had told me. But come, it is not too late yet. Has
Hinton got a card?'

'Yes, your grace.'

'Well, then, don't let me detain you any longer. I see you are both
impatient; and 'faith, if I must confess it, I half envy you; and mind
and give me a full report of the proceedings to-morrow morning.'

'How I wish your grace could only witness it yourself!'

'Eh? Is it so very good, then?'

'Nothing ever was like it; for, although the company is admirable, the
host and hostess are matchless.'

'Egad! you've quite excited my curiosity. I say, O'Grady, would they
know me, think ye? Have you no uncle or country cousin about my weight
and build?'

'Ah, my lord, that is out of the question; you are too well known to
assume an incognito. But still, if you wish to see it for a few minutes,
nothing could be easier than just to walk through the rooms and come
away. The crowd will be such, the thing is quite practicable, done in
that way.'

'By Jove, I don't know; but if I thought---- To be sure, as you say, for
five minutes or so one might get through. Come, here goes; order up the
carriages. Now mind, O'Grady, I am under your management. Do the thing
as quietly as you can.'

Elated at the success of his scheme, Phil scarcely waited for his grace
to conclude, but sprang down the box-lobby to give the necessary orders,
and was back again in an instant.

'Don't you think I had better take this star off?'

'Oh no, my lord, it will not be necessary. By timing the thing well,
we'll contrive to get your grace into the midst of the crowd without
attracting observation. Once there, the rest is easy enough.'

Many minutes had not elapsed ere we reached the corner of Grafton
Street. Here we became entangled with the line of carriages, which
extended more than half-way round Stephen's Green, and, late as was the
hour, were still thr