ught in the market.'

EMPTUM APRUM!' said Lord Colambre to the count, without danger of being
understood by those whom it concerned.

The count smiled a second time; but politely turning the attention of
the company from the unfortunate colonel by addressing himself to the
laughing sportsmen, 'Gentlemen, you seem to value these,' said he,
sweeping the artificial flies from the table into the little basket
from which they had been taken; 'would you do me the honour to accept
of them? They are all of my own making, and consequently of Irish
manufacture.' Then, ringing the bell, he asked Lady Dashfort's
permission to have the basket put into her carriage.

Benson and Williamson followed the servant, to prevent them from being
tossed into the boot. Heathcock stood still in the middle of the room
taking snuff.

Count O'Halloran turned from him to Lord Colambre, who had just got
happily to THE BURIAL-PLACE OF THE NUGENTS, when Lady Dashfort, coming
between them, and spying the title of the chapter, exclaimed--

'What have you there?--Antiquities! my delight!--but I never look at
engravings when I can see realities.'

Lord Colambre was then compelled to follow, as she led the way into
the hall, where the count took down golden ornaments, and brass-headed
spears, and jointed horns of curious workmanship, that had been found on
his estate; and he told of spermaceti wrapped in carpets, and he showed
small urns, enclosing ashes; and from among these urns he selected one,
which he put into the hands of Lord Colambre, telling him that it had
been lately found in an old abbey-ground in his neighbourhood, which had
been the burial-place of some of the Nugent family.

'I was just looking at the account of it, in the book which you saw open
on my table.--And as you seem to take an interest in that family, my
lord, perhaps,' said the count, 'you may think this urn worth your
acceptance.'

Lord Colambre said, 'It would be highly valuable to him--as the Nugents
were his near relations.'

Lady Dashfort little expected this blow; she, however, carried him
off to the moose-deer, and from moose-deer to round-towers, to various
architectural antiquities, and to the real and fabulous history of
Ireland, on all which the count spoke with learning and enthusiasm. But
now, to Colonel Heathcock's great joy and relief, a handsome collation
appeared in the dining-room, of which Ulick opened the folding-doors.

'Count, you have made an exce