is instant; but I am neither to
be intimidated by a threat nor conciliated by a compromise."

"Mr. Corrigan's claim has nothing to go upon, I assure you," broke in
Kennyfeck. "If we accept the paper, it is by courtesy,--to show that we
respect the feeling that suggested it,--nothing more."

While these words were addressed to Tiernay, Cashel, who had walked
towards one of the windows, did not hear them.

"Well," cried Tiernay, after an awkward pause, "the devil a worse
negotiator ever accepted a mission than myself! When I desire to be
frank, the only truths that occur to me are sure to be offensive, and
I never am so certain to insult as when I fancy I 'm doing a favor.
Goodbye, sir; pardon the liberties of an old man, whose profession
has taught him to believe that remedies are seldom painless, and who,
although a poor man, would rather any day lose the fee than the
patient! You'll not treat Con Corrigan the less kindly because he has
an imprudent friend. I'm sorry to think that I leave an unfavorable
impression behind me; but I'm glad, heartily glad, I came here to
breakfast, for I go away convinced of two things, that I was far from
believing so certain when I entered,"--he paused for a second or two,
and then said,--"that a spendthrift could have an unblemished sense of
honor, and that an attorney could appreciate it!"

With these words he departed, while Cashel, after staring for a few
moments at Kennyfeck, threw himself back in his chair, and laughed long
and heartily.

"An original, sir,--quite an original," said Kennyfeck, who, not
exactly knowing whether to accept the doctor's parting speech as a
compliment, or the reverse, contented himself with this very vague
expression.

"He's a fine old fellow, although he does lay on his salve in Indian
fashion, with a scalping-knife; but I wish he'd not have said anything
of that confounded paper."

"Pardon me, sir," interposed Kennyfeck, taking it from his pocket,
"but it might prove of inestimable value, in the event of any future
litigation."

"What! you kept it, then?" cried Cashel.

"Of course I did, sir. It is a document scarce inferior to a deed of
title; for, although Mr. Corrigan has nothing to substantiate a claim
at law, it is incontestable that his family were the original owners of
this estate."

Cashel took the paper from Kennyfeck's hand, and seemed to peruse it for
some minutes, and then approaching the fire he threw it into the blaze,
and