circumstance which, added to his recent disappointment
touching Deaker--from whom he had, in fact, to the last, cherished
secret expectations--inflamed his resentment against M'Loughlin almost
beyond all conception.

On leaving Constitution Cottage for M'Loughlin's, he was not a little
surprised to see worthy Phil walking, backward, and forward on the lawn,
accompanied by no less a personage than our friend _Raymond-na-hattha_.

"Ah," said he to Phil, looking at him and Raymond, "there's a pair of
you."

"Never mind, old fellow," said Phil with a grin, "you don't know what's
ahead--a pretty bit of goods; begad, father, Raymond's a jewel:--ah, you
don't know her, but I do--hip, hip, old cook."

"Phil," said Val, "you have been at the brandy; I see it in your eye,
and I hear it in your speech."

"Well," said Phil, "I have, and what then--that's the chat; who's
afraid, M'Clutchy?"

"Phil, Phil," said the father, "this won't do."

"I say it will do, and it must do," returned the son--"but harkee, old
cock, is Deaker, the precious, d----d yet?"

"If ever man was," replied his father--"and not a penny to either of
us, Phil; not as much as would jingle on his own lying tombstone, and a
lying one it will be no doubt. Did you get the affidavits prepared?"

"I did, but curse the rascals, I was obliged to make them drunk before
they would consent to swear them. The truth is, I put in a lot of stuff
out of my own head," said Phil, "and they refused to swear to it until I
made them blind."

"You must have made devilish stretches when they refused," said the
father, "where are they now?"

"Locked up in the stable loft, fast asleep," replied Phil, "and ready to
swear."

"It is well," said Val, "that we have affidavits and information enough
for his arrest, independent of theirs. Go in, Phil, and keep yourself
steady--Easel must be my own concern, I see that; he shall be arrested
this day; I have everything prepared for it."

"Very well," said Phil; "with all my heart--I have better game in view,"
and he knowingly rubbed his finger along his nose as he spoke.

"If you were sober," said Val, "I could have wished you to witness the
full glut of my vengeance upon M'Loughlin, inasmuch, my excellent son,
as it was on your account I received the insult, the injury--why, by
h----n, he trampled upon me!--that shall never be forgiven, but which
will this day, Phil, meet the vengeance that has been hoarded up
here--" and, as h