until she wrote a letter some weeks afterwards,
signed Amelia Brady, and expressing perfect happiness in her new
condition, and stating that she had been married by Lady Lyndon's
chaplain Mr. Runt, that the truth was known, and my worthy friend
confessed his share of the transaction. As his good-natured mistress
did not dismiss him from his post in consequence, everybody persisted in
supposing that poor Lady Lyndon was privy to the plot; and the story of
her Ladyship's passionate attachment for me gained more and more credit.

I was not slow, you may be sure, in profiting by these rumours. Every
one thought I had a share in the Brady marriage; though no one could
prove it. Every one thought I was well with the widowed Countess; though
no one could show that I said so. But there is a way of proving a thing
even while you contradict it, and I used to laugh and joke so apropos
that all men began to wish me joy of my great fortune, and look up to
me as the affianced husband of the greatest heiress in the kingdom.
The papers took up the matter; the female friends of Lady Lyndon
remonstrated with her and cried 'Fie!' Even the English journals and
magazines, which in those days were very scandalous, talked of the
matter; and whispered that a beautiful and accomplished widow, with
a title and the largest possessions in the two kingdoms, was about to
bestow her hand upon a young gentleman of high birth and fashion, who
had distinguished himself in the service of His M-----y the K--- of
Pr----. I won't say who was the author of these paragraphs; or how
two pictures, one representing myself under the title of 'The Prussian
Irishman,' and the other Lady Lyndon as 'The Countess of Ephesus,'
actually appeared in the Town and Country Magazine, published at London,
and containing the fashionable tittle-tattle of the day.

Lady Lyndon was so perplexed and terrified by this continual hold upon
her, that she determined to leave the country. Well, she did; and
who was the first to receive her on landing at Holyhead? Your humble
servant, Redmond Barry, Esquire. And, to crown all, the Dublin Mercury,
which announced her Ladyship's departure, announced mine THE DAY BEFORE.
There was not a soul but thought she had followed me to England; whereas
she was only flying me. Vain hope!--a man of my resolution was not thus
to be balked in pursuit. Had she fled to the antipodes, I would have
been there: ay, and would have followed her as far as Orphe