with the same easy manner.

"You surely told him that his suspicions were unfounded and unjust;
that my intimacy, however prompted by the greatest admiration, had never
transgressed the line of respect?"

"Of course, my dear fellow, I said a thousand things of you that I did
n't believe--and, worse still, neither did he; but the upshot of all
is, that he fancies it is a question between the peerage and the great
untitled class; he has got it into his wise brain that the barons of
Runnymede will rise from their monumental marble in horror and shame
at such an invasion of 'the order;' and that there will be no longer
security beneath the coronet when such a domestic Jack Cade as yourself
goes at large."

"I tell you again, Linton,--and let it be for the last time,--your
pleasantry is most ill-timed. I cannot, I will not, gratify this old
man's humor, and make myself ridiculous to pamper his absurd vanity.
Besides, to throw a slander upon his wife, he must seek another
instrument."

By accident, mere accident, Cashel threw a more than usual significance
into these last few words; and Linton, whose command over his features
rarely failed, taken suddenly by what seemed a charge, grew deep red.

Cashel started as he saw the effect of his speech; he was like one who
sees his chance shot has exploded a magazine.

"What!" cried he, "have you a grudge in that quarter, and is it thus you
would pay it?"

"I hope you mean this in jest, Cashel?" said Linton, with a voice of
forced calm.

"Faith, I never was less in a mood for joking; my words have only such
meaning as your heart accuses you of."

"Come, come, then there is no harm done. But pray, be advised, and never
say as much to any one who has less regard for you. And now, once more,
what shall we do with Kilgoff? He has charged me to carry you a
message, and I only undertook the mission in the hope of some
accommodation,--something that should keep the whole affair strictly
amongst ourselves."

"Then you wish for my answer?"

"Of course."

"It is soon said. I 'll not meet him."

"Not meet him? But just consider--"

"I _have_ considered, and I tell you once more I 'll not meet him. He
cannot lay with truth any injury at my door; and I will not, to indulge
his petulant vanity, be led to injure one whose fair fame is of more
moment than our absurd differences."

"I own to you, Cashel, this does not strike me as a wise course. By
going out and receiving his fir