d risen on his entrance,
and O'Connor had twice requested of him to take a chair at the table,
without his hearing, or at least noticing, the invitation; while with
a slow pace, and with an air of mingled importance and effrontery, he
advanced into the centre of the apartment, and regarding our small party
with a supercilious air, he said:

'I take the liberty of introducing myself--I am Captain M'Creagh,
formerly of the--infantry. My business here is with a Mr. O'Connor, and
the sooner it is despatched the better.'

'I am the gentleman you name,' said O'Connor; 'and as you appear
impatient, we had better proceed to your commission without delay.'

'Then, Mr. O'Connor, you will please to read that note,' said the
captain, placing a sealed paper in his hand.

O'Connor read it through, and then observed:

'This is very extraordinary indeed. This note appears to me perfectly
unaccountable.'

'You are very young, Mr. O'Connor,' said the captain, with vulgar
familiarity; 'but, without much experience in these matters, I think
you might have anticipated something like this. You know the old saying,
"Second thoughts are best;" and so they are like to prove, by G--!'

'You will have no objection, Captain M'Creagh, on the part of your
friend, to my reading this note to these gentlemen; they are both
confidential friends of mine, and one of them has already acted for me
in this business.'

'I can have no objection,' replied the captain, 'to your doing what you
please with your own. I have nothing more to do with that note once I
put it safe into your hand; and when that is once done, it is all one to
me, if you read it to half the world--that's YOUR concern, and no affair
of mine.'

O'Connor then read the following:

'Mr. Fitzgerald begs leave to state, that upon re-perusing Mr.
O'Connor's communication of this morning carefully, with an experienced
friend, he is forced to consider himself as challenged. His friend,
Captain M'Creagh, has been empowered by him to make all the necessary
arrangements.

'T---- Inn, Thursday.'

I can hardly describe the astonishment with which I heard this note. I
turned to the captain, and said:

'Surely, sir, there is some mistake in all this?'

'Not the slightest, I'll assure you, sir.' said he, coolly; 'the case is
a very clear one, and I think my friend has pretty well made up his mind
upon it. May I request your answer?' he continued, turning to O'Connor;
'time is precious