ed
and dishohoured man,' that 'he was dragged into the field,' that 'there
was ignominy in the very thought that such a letter should have
been directed to him.' It was in vain that I reasoned against this
impression; the conviction that he had been disgraced had taken
possession of his mind. He said again and again that nothing but his
DEATH could remove the stain which his indecision had cast upon the
name of his family. I hurried to the hall, on hearing M'Donough and the
captain passing, and reached the door just in time to hear the latter
say, as he mounted his horse:

'All the rest can be arranged on the spot; and so farewell, Mr.
M'Donough--we'll meet at Philippi, you know;' and with this classical
allusion, which was accompanied with a grin and a bow, and probably
served many such occasions, the captain took his departure.

M'Donough briefly stated the few particulars which had been arranged.
The parties were to meet at the stand-house, in the race-ground, which
lay at about an equal distance between Castle Connor and the town of
T----. The hour appointed was half-past five on the next morning, at
which time the twilight would be sufficiently advanced to afford a
distinct view; and the weapons to be employed were PISTOLS--M'Creagh
having claimed, on the part of his friend, all the advantages of the
CHALLENGED party, and having, consequently, insisted upon the choice of
'TOOLS,' as he expressed himself; and it was further stipulated that the
utmost secrecy should be observed, as Fitzgerald would incur great risk
from the violence of the peasantry, in case the affair took wind. These
conditions were, of course, agreed upon by O'Connor, and M'Donough left
the castle, having appointed four o'clock upon the next morning as the
hour of his return, by which time it would be his business to provide
everything necessary for the meeting. On his departure, O'Connor
requested me to remain with him upon that evening, saying that 'he
could not bear to be alone with his mother.' It was to me a most painful
request, but at the same time one which I could not think of refusing.
I felt, however, that the difficulty at least of the task which I had
to perform would be in some measure mitigated by the arrival of two
relations of O'Connor upon that evening.

'It is very fortunate,' said O'Connor, whose thoughts had been running
upon the same subject, 'that the O'Gradys will be with us to-night;
their gaiety and good-humour will re