utation will scarcely
stretch across the Channel; and one's notoriety must have strong claims
before it pass the custom-house at Liverpool.'

'Well, that is something; but hang it, O'Grady, I wish I had had a shot
at him.'

'Of course you do: nothing more natural, and at the same time, if you
care for the lady, nothing more _mal a propos_. Do what you will, her
name will be mixed up in the matter; but had it gone further she must
have been deeply compromised between you. You are too young, Jack,
to understand much of this; but take my word for it--fight about your
sister, your aunt, your maternal grandmother, if you like, but never for
the girl you are about to marry. It involves a false position to both
her and yourself. And now that I am giving advice, just give me another
cutlet. I say, Corny, any hot potatoes?'

'Thim was hot awhile ago,' said Corny, without taking his hands from his
pockets.

'Well, it is pleasant to know even that. Put that pistol-case back
again. Ah! there goes Vaughan; I want a word with him.'

So saying, he sprang up, and hastened downstairs.

'What did he say I was to do with the pistols?' said Corny, as he
polished the case with the ample cuff of his coat.

'You are to put them by: we shan't want them this morning.'

'And there is to be no devil after all,' said he with a most fiendish
grin. 'Ugh, ugh! didn't I know it? Ye's come from the wrong side of the
water for that. It's little powder ye blaze, for all your talking.'

Taking out one of the pistols as he spoke, he examined the lock for a
few minutes patiently, and then muttered to himself: 'Wasn't I right to
put in the ould flints? The devil a more ye 'd he doing I guessed nor
making a flash in the pan!'

It was rather difficult, even with every allowance for Mr. Delany's
temper, to submit to his insolence patiently. After all, there was
nothing better to be done; for Corny was even greater in reply than
attack, and any rejoinder on my part would unquestionably have made me
fare the worse. Endeavouring, therefore, to hum a tune, I strolled to
the window and looked out; while the imperturbable Corny, opening the
opposite sash, squibbed off both pistols previous to replacing them in
the box.

I cannot say what it was in the gesture and the action of this little
fiend; but somehow the air of absurdity thus thrown over our quarrel
by this ludicrous termination hurt me deeply; and Corny's face as he
snapped the trigger was a dir