's; and that matter is also closed--by which means I secured two
respectable, safe, and unobjectionable tenants, on whose votes, at all
events, we can reckon, which was more than we could do with the other
two--both of whom had expressed their determination to vote in favor of
Hartley.'

"'What are the religious opinions of those men, Mr. M'Clutchy?'

"'M'Loughlin is a Papist--'

"'But Harman is worse,' interrupted Phil; 'for he's a Protestant, and no
Orangeman.'

"'I thought,' I replied, 'that nothing could be so bad as a Papist, much
less worse.'

"'Oh yes,' said Phil, 'that's worse; because one always knows that
a Papist's a Papist--but when you find a Protestant who is not an
Orangeman, on my sacred honor, you don't know what to make of him. The
Papists are all cowards, too.'

"'Then,' said I, 'you have the less difficulty in keeping them down.'

"'Upon my soul and honor, sir, you don't know how a naked Papist will
run from a gun and bayonet. I have often seen it.'

"At this moment a tap came to the door, and a servant man, in Orange
livery, announced a gentleman to see Mr. Philip M'Clutchy. I rose to
take my departure; but Phil insisted I should stop.

"'Don't go, sir,' said he; 'I have something to propose to you by and
by.' I accordingly took my seat.

"When the gentleman entered, he looked about, and selecting Phil, bowed
to him, and then to us.

"'Ah, Mr. Hartley! how do you do?' said Val, shaking hands with him;
'and how is your cousin, whom we hope to have the pleasure of beating
soon?--ha, ha, ha. Take a seat.'

"'Thank you,'said the other; 'but the fact is, that time's just now
precious, and I wish to have a few words with Mr. Philip here.'

"'What is it, Hartley? How are you, Hartley? I'm glad to see you.'

"'Quite well, Phil; but if you have no objection, I would rather speak
to you in another room. It's a matter of some importance, and of some
delicacy, too.'

"'Oh, curse the delicacy, man; out with it.'

"'I really cannot, Phil, unless by ourselves.'

"They both then withdrew to the back parlor, where, after a period of
about ten minutes, Phil came rushing in with a face on him, and in a
state of trepidation utterly indescribable; Hartley, on the other hand,
cool and serious, following him.

"'Phil,' said he, 'think of what you are about to do. Don't exclude
yourself hereafter from the rank and privileges of a gentleman.
Pause, if you respect yourself, and regard your reputation a