"We have got a few minutes before dinner, madam. I must beg you will
employ them in writing to Mr. Leonard to return the bracelet at once.
Say it was a mistake on your part,--an inadvertence,--and done without
my knowledge. Caution the man, too, about appropriating any portion of
the design, and remind him that articles of _virtu_ are protected by the
Act of copyright."

"We had better delay the postboy, my Lord," said Linton; "he starts at
seven precisely."

"Do so, sir."

"Dinner!" cried the butler, flinging wide the folding-doors.

"Could we delay that pleasant summons a few minutes, Mr. Cashel?" said
Lord Kilgoff.

"It will not be necessary on my account, sir; I 'll write to-morrow."
And this she said with an air of haughty defiance that never failed to
subdue the old peer's petulance; and then, accepting Cashel's arm, moved
on without a word.

"Where is it? that's the question!" whispered Mrs. White to Lady Janet.

"Take you two to one it's not at Leonard's," said Frobisher.

"Give you an even fifty, Linton knows all about it," replied Upton.

"And ten to two that he 'll never tell!" chimed in Miss Meek; and so
they took their places at the table.

CHAPTER XVIII. THE OLD FRIENDS IN COUNCIL

I could an I would, Sir Harry.

Old Play.

While the gay company at Tubbermore dined sumptuously, and enjoyed the
luxuries of a splendid table with no other alloy to their pleasure than
the _ennui_ of people whose fastidiousness has grown into malady,
Mr. Corrigan sat in council at the cottage with his ancient ally, the
doctor. There was an appearance of constraint over each,--very unusual
with men who had been friends from boyhood; and in their long pauses,
and short, abrupt sentences, might be read the absence of that confiding
spirit which had bound them so many years like brothers.

It may be in the reader's recollection that while Corrigan was pledged
to secrecy by Linton respecting his revelations of Cashel, Tiernay was
equally bound by Roland not to divulge any of his plans for the old
man's benefit. Perhaps it was the first time in the life of either that
such a reserve had been practised. Certainly it weighed heavily upon
both; and more than once they were coming to the fatal resolve to
break their vows, and then some sudden thought--some unknown dread of
disconcerting the intentions of those who trusted them--would cross
their mind, and after a momentary struggle, a half cough, and mu