le share of their iniquitous gains.
They were not, however, the gentlemen to leave much behind them, and
the upshot was, that Darby became not only highly dissatisfied at their
conduct towards him, but jealous and vigilant of all their movements,
and determined to watch an opportunity of getting them both into
his power. M'Slime's trick about M'Clutchy's letter first awoke his
suspicions, and the reader is already acquainted with the dexterous
piece of piety by which he secured it. Both letters now were in his
possession, or at least in a safe place; but as he had not yet read
them, he did not exactly know what line of conduct or deportment to
assume. Then, how face M'Clutchy without M'Slime's answer? Darby,
however, was fertile, and precisely the kind of man who could, as they
sav, kill two birds with one stone. He had it;--. just the very thing
that would serve every purpose. Accordingly, instead of going to
M'Clutchy's at all, he turned his steps to his own house; tied an old
stocking around his head, got his face bandaged, and deliberately took
to his bed in a very severe state of illness. And, indeed, to tell the
truth, a day or two in bed was not calculated to do him the least harm,
but a great deal of good; for what, between the united contributions of
Father M'Cabe and Bob Beatty, he was by no means an unfit subject for
the enjoyment of a few days' retirement from public life.

CHAPTER XIV.--Poll Doolin's Honesty, and Phil's Gallantry

--A Beautiful but Cowardly Method of Destroying Female Reputation.--A
Domiciliary Visit from the Blood-hounds--Irresponsible Power

At length the hour of Mary M'Loughlin's appointment with Phil arrived,
and the poor girl found herself so completely divided between the
contending principles of love for Harman and aversion towards Phil,
that she scarcely knew the purport of her thoughts or actions. Harman's
safety, however, was the predominant idea in her soul, and in order
to effect that, or at least to leave nothing undone to effect it,
she resolved, as pure and disinterested attachment always will do--to
sacrifice her detestation for young M'Clutchy, so far as to give him an
opportunity of satisfying her that he was sincere in wishing to save her
lover. This setting aside her invincible and instinctive hatred of that
worthy gentleman, was, she thought, not at least unreasonable, and with
her mind thus regulated she accordingly awaited the appointed time. On
reaching the