his time; 'twas more serious; 'twas about a horse
Phelim had sold, and the little attorney-man had served a writ, and
Phelim went down to Cork and pulled the little man's nose. Whin the word
was given the attorney-man fired and nicked Phelim's ear. Phelim raised
his pistol, slow as married life, and covered the little man. 'Take off
your hat!' called Phelim. The little man obeyed, white as paper, and
shakin' like a leaf. 'Was the horse sound?' called Phelim. 'He was,'
said the little man 'Was he six years old?' called Phelim. 'At least,'
said the little man. 'None of your quibbles,' called Phelim. 'He was
six, to a minute,' said the little man, looking into the pistol, 'Was he
chape at the price?' asked Phelim. 'He was a gift,' said the attorney
'Gentlemen,' says Phelim, 'you have heard this dyin' confession--we will
now seal it,' and he sent a bullet through the attorney-man's hat. I had
it all from Dr. Clancey, who was out with them. They sent Phelim to
Parliament after that, but he took the Chiltern Hundreds and came home.
He said his duties interfered with the snipe-shootin'. You'd like
Phelim, your imminence."

"I am sure I should," said the cardinal.

"He's in love with Nora," said Miss O'Kelly.

"Ah," said the cardinal, "I spoke too quickly."

Meanwhile the shadows began to creep across the deck. The cardinal rose
from his chair.

"At what hour do you dine?" he asked.

"I made the hour early when I heard you order your barca for nine," said
Lady Nora; "I said half-past seven."

"Then," said the cardinal, "I should excuse you, but I do it
reluctantly. I am keeping you from your toilet."

Miss O'Kelly laughed. "Your imminence," she said, "when a woman reaches
my age it takes her some time to dress. I told you I was two-and-twenty.
It will take my maid nearly an hour to make me look it," and, with a
courtesy, she went below.

Lady Nora stayed behind. "Your eminence," she said, "the evening will be
fine; shall we dine on deck?"

"That will be charming," said the cardinal.

"Whenever you wish to go to your room," said Lady Nora, "you have but to
press this button, and the head steward will come." She still loitered.
"I think it very likely," she said, hesitating, "that the Earl of
Vauxhall will drop in; he often does. I should have mentioned it before,
but I was so delighted at your staying that I forgot all about him."

"My dear lady," said the cardinal, "to supplant the Earl of Vauxhall in
your though