-d scandalous
transaction."

"The spy system, Sir William, is a very useful one to government,"
replied Val, "and they would be devilish fools if they did not encourage
it."

"That may be your opinion, Mr. M'Clutchy," said Sir William, "and your
practice, for aught I know; but, permit me to say, that it is not the
opinion of a gentleman, a man of honor, nor of any honest man, however
humble."

"I perfectly agree with you, Sir William," said Hartley, "and I despise
the government which can stoop to such discreditable treachery, for it
is nothing else. The government that could adopt such a tool as this
Browbeater, would not scruple to violate the sanctity either of private
life or public confidence, if it suited their interest--nay, I question
whether they would not be guilty of a felony itself, and open the very
letters in the post-office, which are placed there under the sacred seal
of public faith. However, never mind; proceed with the calendar."

"Here is the case of some of your wreckers, M'Clutchy, charged here with
illegally, maliciously, and violently pulling down several houses in
the village of Crockaniska--assaulting and maltreating the unoffending
inhabitants."

"Halt there a moment," said Val; "rebels, every man of the said
inhabitants, which I can prove. My men, who are remarkable for their
Protestantism and loyalty, went upon private information--"

"More of the spy system," said Hartley, smiling.

"Mr. Hartley, you may smile, but truth is truth," replied Val; "we had
private information that they had arms and rebellious papers, and the
latter we have got under the thatch of their cabins."

"Private information!--still more of the spy system," repeated Hartley,
smiling again.

"But not the arms?" asked Sir William.

"No, Sir William, not the arms; the rebels were too quick for us there."

"Then, they expected you it seems," observed Hartley; "and, if so, when
taking away the arms, I am anxious to know why they should have been
such fools as to leave the papers behind them."

"I am not here to account for their conduct, sir," replied Val, "but to
state the facts as they occurred--they may, for instance, not have had
time to bring them. It is not a month, for instance, since my fellows
in Still hunting--and talking of that, Mr. Hartley, will you allow me
to send you a couple of kegs of such stuff as is not to be had on every
hill head; I offer it from pure good will, for I really regret that