hat haven't a civiler word
in their mouth than Cross Corny! Bad luck to them for that same."

This honest admission as to the world's opinion of Mister Delany's
character was so far satisfactory as it enabled me to see with whom I
had to deal; and, although for a moment or two it was a severe struggle
to prevent myself bursting into laughter, I fortunately obtained the
mastery, and once more returned to the charge.

"And now, Mister Delany, can you inform me how I came here? I remember
something of an accident on my landing; but when, where, and how, I am
totally ignorant."

"An accident!" said he, turning up his eyes; "an accident, indeed!
that's what they always call it when they wring off the rappers, or bate
the watch: ye came here in a hackney-coach, with the police, as many a
one came before you."

"But where am I?" said I, impatiently.

"In Dublin Castle; bad luck to it for a riotous, disorderly place."

"Well, well," said I, half angrily, "I want to know whose room is this?"

"Captain O'Grady's. What have you to say agin the room? Maybe you're
used to worse. There now, that's what you got for that. I'm laving the
place next week, but that's no rayson----"

Here he went off, _diminuendo_, again, with a few flying imprecations
upon several things and persons unknown.

Mr. Delany now dived for a few seconds into a small pantry at the end of
the room, from which he emerged with a tray between his hands, and two
decanters under his arms.

"Draw the little table this way," he cried, "more towards the fire, for,
av coorse, you're fresh and fastin'; there now, take the sherry from
under my arm--the other's port: that was a ham, till Captain Mills cut
it away, as ye see--there's a veal pie, and here's a cold grouse--and,
maybe, you've eat worse before now--and will again, plaze God."

I assured him of the truth of his observation in a most conciliating
tone.

"Oh, the devil fear ye," was the reply, while he murmured somewhat
lower, "the half of yees isn't used to meat twice in the week."

"Capital fare this, Mr. Delany," said I, as, half famished with long
fasting, I helped myself a second time.

"You're eating as if you liked it," said he, with a shrug of his
shoulders.

"Upon my word," said I, after throwing down a bumper of sherry, "that's
a very pleasant glass of wine; and, on the whole, I should say, there
are worse places than this in the world."

A look of unutterable contempt--whether at me fo