culiar feelings, independently of those which were
elicited by the conversation. Jemmy Burke, who had tasted some of
Wallace's liquor, as indeed, with the exception of Bryan, they all did,
was consequently in a better and more loquacious humor than he had been
during the day. On this occasion his usual good fortune attended him for
it was the opinion of every one there, that he had got the best bargain
disposed of during the day--a lot of twenty-five wethers in prime
condition. Gerald Cavanagh, who had also tasted the poteen, stuck as
closely as possible to his skirts, moved thereto by a principle of
adhesion, with which our readers are already acquainted; and Bryan,
who saw and understood his motives, felt by no means comfortable at
witnessing such strong symptoms of excessive attachment. Old M'Mahon
did not speak much, for, in truth, he could not overcome the depressing
effects of the scene he had witnessed, nor of the words uttered by
Wallace, as they bade each other farewell.

Burke, however, and his companion, Cavanagh, looked like men between
whom a warm friendship was about to grow up. Whenever they came to a
public-house or a shebeen, they either dismounted and had a cordial drop
together, or took it in the saddle after touching each other's glasses
in token of love and amity. It is true some slight interruption
occurred, that disturbed the growing confidence and familiarity of their
dialogue, which interruption consisted in the endless whinnying of the
mare whenever her foal delayed a moment behind her, or in the sudden and
abrupt manner in which she wheeled about with a strong disposition to
return and look for it.

On the discovery of Burke's robbery an investigation was set on foot,
but with no prospect of success, and without in any way involving the
Hogans, who were strongly suspected. It was clearly proved that Philip
and one of his brothers slept in their usual residence--Cavanagh's
corn-kiln--on that night, but it was admitted that Batt Hogan and his
wife Kate were both abroad the greater portion of it. On them suspicion
might, indeed, very naturally have rested, were it not for the evidence
of Hycy himself, who at once admitted that he could exonerate them from
any suspicion, as he knew both how and where they had passed the night
in question. So far, therefore, the Hogans, dishonest as they were
unquestionably reputed to be, now stood perfectly exonerated from all
suspicion.

The lapse of a very fe