ubt. Don't you think now it is a fortunate thing that we can indict
Harman for Harpur's murder. I really think, and it is said, he murdered
him. We would include the priest in the indictment as accessory, but
that might be attended with personal danger--and the less real danger we
incur the better for ourselves."

"Faith and honor, father, that doctrine's worthy of an oracle--as,
indeed, most of what you say is."

"But mark me, Phil; our object is simply his ruin, not his death. Let
us beggar M'Loughlin and him, and drive them out of the country.
No--no--not the death of either of them; on the contrary, I should wish
them to live, if it was only that they might feel my revenge--and that
I knew they felt it. I would not hang them if I could, for my own sake."
He got pale, ground his teeth, knit his black beetle brow, and exhibited
the diabolical cast of features for which he was remarkable whenever his
evil passions began to stir in his heart.

"Now," said he to Phil, "keep a close mouth above all things, for we
must proceed with caution. I have here a letter from Lord Cumber, in
which, at my private suggestion, he declines to renew their leases.
Indeed, on serious consideration, I have recently advised him to grant
no renewals, except in cases where every reliance can be placed upon
the principles of the parties. The want of a lease is a very wholesome
restriction on the conduct of our enemies. M'Slime opposes me in this,
because he cannot pocket as much as usual; but though I cannot readily
break with him, still, I trust, that in a short time I shall be able to
turn his flank in a manner for which he is but little prepared. I have
reason to think he is tampering with O'Drive--in fact O'Drive told me as
much--O'Drive, however, is at work for me, although honest Solomon
does not suspect him. The pious attorney, who is bestowing more of his
attention to religion than ever, has got bitten by the Conversion mania,
and thinks he will be charged with a neglect of his gifts, as he calls
them, unless he can produce a live convert actually made by his own
hands. I accordingly suggested to O'Drive to consult him on some
religious scruples that he is supposed to have felt from the perusal of
a tract written by M'Slime himself.

"Why," said Phil, "are you not aware that he gave me three or four dozen
of them for gratuitous distribution, as he calls it. Yes, it is called
'The Religious Attorney,' being a reconcilement between hon