en we shall come to a right
understanding. You were crossing the street, and a gentleman, a
particular friend of mine, with a broom which he carries for his own
amusement, did himself the honour to address you, whereupon, of that
same little stick of yours, you did him the honour to give him a slight
taste."

"What do you mean? do you refer to the sweeper, who was so importunate
when I crossed over the road?"

"Then, by the powers, you've just hit it, as you did him. That's my
particular friend, Thaddeus O'Rourke, gentleman."

"Gentleman!" exclaimed I.

"And with as good and as true Milesian blood as any in Ireland. If you
think, sir, that because my friend, just for his own amusement, thinks
proper to put on the worst of his clothes and carry a broom, just by way
of exercise, to prevent his becoming too lusty, he is therefore to be
struck like a hound, it's a slight mistake, that's all; and here sir, is
his card, and you will oblige me by mentioning any friend of yours with
whom I may settle all the little points necessary before the meeting of
two gentleman."

I could hardly refrain from laughing at this Irish gentleman and his
friend, but I thought it advisable to retain my countenance. "My dear
sir," replied I, "it grieves me to the heart that I should have
committed such an error, in not perceiving the gentility of your friend;
had I not been so careless, I certainly should have requested him to do
me the honour to accept a shilling, instead of having offered him the
insult. I hope it is not now too late?"

"By the powers, I'm not one of those harum-scarum sort, who would make
up a fight when there's no occasion for it, and as your 'haviour is that
of a gentleman, I think it will perhaps be better to shake hands upon
it, and forget it altogether. Suppose now, we'll consider that it was
all a mistake? You give the shilling as you intended to do, I'll swear
only you were in so great a hurry--and then, perhaps, you'll not object
to throw in another shilling for that same tap with the cane, just to
wipe off the insult as it were, as we do our sins, when we fork out the
money, and receive absolution from the padre; and then, perhaps, you
will not think it too much if I charge another shilling for my time and
trouble, for carrying a message between two gentlemen."

"On the contrary, Mr O'Donaghan, I think all your demands are
reasonable. Here is the money."

Mr O'Donaghan took the three shillings. "The