that I sent for you; only, sorrow seize the rogue that made
the old man rob me! It wasn't Anty herself, poor creature; she knew
nothing about it; it was those who meant to get hold of my money,
through her, that did it. Poor Anty! Heaven knows she wasn't up to such
a dodge as that!"

"Well, Mr Lynch, of course I know nothing of the absolute facts; but
from what I hear, I think it's as well to let the will alone. The
Chancellor won't put a will aside in a hurry; it's always a difficult
job--would cost an immense sum of money, which should, any way, come
out of the property; and, after all, the chances are ten to one you'd
be beat."

"Perhaps you're right, now; though I'm sure, had the matter been
properly taken up at first--had you seen the whole case at the first
start, the thing could have been done. I'm sure you would have said so;
but that's over now; it's another business I want you for. But you
don't drink your punch!--and it's dry work talking, without wetting
one's whistle," and Barry carried out his own recommendation.

"I'm doing very well, thank ye, Mr Lynch. And what is it I can do for
you?"

"That's what I'm coming to. You know that, by the will, my sister Anty
gets from four to five hundred a year?"

"I didn't know the amount; but I believe she has half whatever there
is."

"Exactly: half the land, half the cash, half the house, half
everything, except the debts! and those were contracted in my name, and
I must pay them all. Isn't that hard, Mr Daly?"

"I didn't know your father had debts."

"Oh, but he had--debts which ought to have been his; though, as I said,
they stand in my name, and I must pay them."

"And, I suppose, what you now want is to saddle the debts on the entire
property? If you can really prove that the debts were incurred for your
father's benefit, I should think you might do that. But has your sister
refused to pay the half? They can't be heavy. Won't Miss Lynch agree to
pay the half herself?"

This last lie of Barry's--for, to give the devil his due, old Sim
hadn't owed one penny for the last twenty years--was only a bright
invention of the moment, thrown off by our injured hero to aggravate
the hardships of his case; but he was determined to make the most of
it.

"Not heavy?--faith, they _are_ heavy, and d----d heavy too, Mr
Daly!--what'll take two hundred a-year out of my miserable share of the
property; divil a less. Oh! there's never any knowing how a man'll cut
up t