ays Mr. Brooke, quietly; 'but listen to me,'
and here he dropped his voice to a whisper, 'as sure as you turn the
king of hearts I'll send a bullet through your skull! Go on now, and
don't rise from that seat till you've finished the game.' Faix, he just
did as he was bid; he turned a little two or three of diamonds, and
gettin' up from the table, he left the room, and the next morning there
was no more seen of him in Aix-la-Chapelle. But that wasn't the end of
it, for scarce was the baron two posts on his journey, when my master
sends in his name, and says he wants to speak to Count Riedensegg. There
was a long time, and a great debatin', I believe, whether they'd let him
in or not; for the count couldn't make if it was mischief he was after;
but at last he was ushered into the bedroom where the other was in bed.

"'Count,' says he, after he fastened the door, and saw that they was
alone, 'Count, you tried a dirty thrick with that dirty spalpeen of a
baron--an ould blaguard that's as well known as Freney, the robber--but
I forgive you for it all, for you did it in the way of business. I know
well what you was afther; you wanted a peep at our dispatches--there, ye
needn't look cross and angry--why wouldn't ye do it, just as the baron
always took a sly glance at my cards before he played his own. Well,
now, I'm just in the humor to sarve you. They're not trating me as they
ought here, and I'm going away, and if you'll give me a few letthers to
some of the pretty women in Vienna, Kateuka Batthyani, and Amalia
Gradoffsky, and one or two men in the best set, I'll send you in return
something will surprise you.'

"It was after a long time and great batin' about the bush, that the ould
count came in; but the sight of a sacret cipher did the business, and he
consented.

"'There it is,' says Mr. Brooke, 'there's the whole key to our
correspondence, study it well, and I'll bring you a sacret dispatch in
the evening--something that will surprise you.'

"'Ye will--will ye?' says the count.

"'On the honor of an Irish gentleman, I will,' says Mr. Brooke.

"The count sits down on the spot and writes the letters to all the
princesses and countesses in Vienna, saying that Mr. Brooke was the
elegantest, and politest, and most trusty young gentleman ever he met;
and telling them to treat him with every consideration.

"'There will be another account of me,' says the master to me, 'by the
post; but I'll travel faster, and give me