ht be well to bring their
connexion with the Molletts to a close. What if an end had come to
the money of these people, and their bills should be dishonoured when
due? It was all very well for a man to have claims against Sir Thomas
Fitzgerald, but Fanny O'Dwyer had already learnt that nothing goes so
far in this world as ready cash.

"They do have business, I suppose," said Fanny.

"It won't be worth much, I'm thinking," said Mrs. O'Dwyer, "when they
can't pay their weekly bills at a house of public entertainment,
without flying their names at two months' date."

Mrs. O'Dwyer hated any such payments herself, and looked on them as
certain signs of immorality. That every man should take his drop of
drink, consume it noiselessly, and pay for it immediately--that was
her idea of propriety in its highest form.

"And they've been down here three or four times, each of them," said
Father Barney, thinking deeply on the subject.

"I believe they have," said Fanny. "But of course I don't know much
of where they've been to."

Father Barney knew very well that his dear niece had been on much
more intimate terms with her guest than she pretended. The rumours
had reached his ears some time since that the younger of the two
strangers in South Main Street was making himself agreeable to the
heiress of the hotel, and he had intended to come down upon her with
all the might of an uncle, and, if necessary, with all the authority
of the Church. But now that Fanny had discarded her lover, he wisely
felt that it would be well for him to know nothing about it. Both
uncles and priests may know too much--very foolishly.

"I have seen them here myself," said he, "and they have both been up
at Castle Richmond."

"They do say as poor Sir Thomas is in a bad way," said Mrs. O'Dwyer,
shaking her head piteously.

"And yet he sees these men," said Father Barney. "I know that
for certain. He has seen them, though he will rarely see anybody
now-a-days."

"Young Mr. Herbert is a-doing most of the business up about the
place," said Mrs. O'Dwyer. "And people do say as how he is going to
make a match of it with Lady Clara Desmond. And it's the lucky girl
she'll be, for he's a nice young fellow entirely."

"Not half equal to her other Joe, Mr. Owen that is," said Fanny.

"Well, I don't know that, my dear. Such a house and property as
Castle Richmond is not likely to go a-begging among the young women.
And then Mr. Herbert is not so rampageous