wed the priest's proposition, than which nothing
could be less to Mr. Burke's taste. This time, however, he was in funds;
and while the good father disengaged his five-pound note from the folds
of a black leather pocket-book as large as a portfolio, his antagonist
threw a fifty on the table, with an air of swaggering importance.
I turned now to shake hands with my friend; but to my surprise and
astonishment he gave me a look of cold and impressive import, that
showed me at once he did not wish to be recognised, and the next moment
left the room. My business there was also concluded, and having promised
to be forthcoming the following day at two o'clock, I bowed to the
chairman and withdrew.

CHAPTER XXII. A MOONLIGHT CANTER

I was not quite satisfied with the good priest for his having cut me, no
matter what his reasons. I was not overmuch pleased with the tone of the
whole meeting itself, and certainly I was very little satisfied with the
part I had myself taken therein; for as cooler judgment succeeded to hot
excitement, I perceived in what a mesh of difficulties I had involved
myself, and how a momentary flush of passionate indignation had carried
me away beyond the bounds of reason and sense, to undertake what but
half an hour previously I should have shrunk from with shame, and the
very thought of which now filled me with apprehension and dread--not
indeed as to the consequences to myself, physically considered, for most
willingly would I have compounded for a fractured limb, or even two, to
escape the ridicule I was almost certain of incurring. This it was which
I could not bear, and my _amore propre_ recoiled from the thought of
being a laughing-stock to the underbred and ill-born horde that would
assemble to witness me.

When I arrived at the inn poor Joe was there awaiting me; he had been
down to see the horse, which for precaution's sake was kept at a mill a
little distance from the town, and of whose heart and condition he spoke
in glowing terms.

'Och! he is a raal beauty--a little thick in fat about the crest,
but they say he always trains fleshy, and his legs are as clean as a
whistle. Sorra bit, but it will give Mr. Ulick as much as he can do to
ride him to-morrow. I know by the way he turns his eyes round to you in
the stable he's in the devil's temper.'

'But it is not Mr. Burke, Joe--I am going to ride him.'

'You are going to do it! You! Oh! by the powers! Mr. Ulick wasn't
far out when he