unate young man's character right with the public, or
if not with the public, at least in that quarter where such a service
might prove most beneficial to him, we mean in Gerald Cavanagh's family.
Accordingly, one morning after breakfast as his uncle sat reading the
newspaper, he addressed him as follows:--

"By the way, uncle, you must excuse mo for asking you a question or
two."

"Certainly, Harry. Did I not often desire you never to hesitate asking
me any question you wish? Why should you not?"

"This, however, may be trenching a little upon the secrets of
your--your--profession."

"What is it?--what is it?"

"You remember the seizure you made some time ago in the townland of
Ahadarra?"

"I do perfectly well."

"Now, uncle, excuse me. Is it fair to ask you if you know the person who
furnished you with information on that subject. Mark, I don't wish nor
desire to know his name; I only ask if you know it?"

"No, I do not."

"Do you not suspect it? It came to you anonymously, did it not?"

"Why, you are raking me with a fire of cross-examination, Harry; but it
did."

"Should you wish to know, uncle?"

"Undoubtedly, I wish to know those to whom we are indebted for that
fortunate event."

"Don't say we, uncle; speak only for yourself."

"I should wish to know, though."

"Pray have you the letter?"

"I have: you will find it in one of the upper pigeon holes; I can't
say which; towards the left hand. I placed it there yesterday, as it
turned up among some other communications of a similar stamp."

In a few moments his nephew returned, with the precious document in his
hands.

"Now, uncle," he proceeded, as he seated himself at the table, "you
admit that this is the letter?"

"I admit--why, you blockhead, does not the letter itself prove as much?"

"Well, then, I know the scoundrel who sent you this letter."

"I grant you he is a scoundrel, Harry; nobody, I assure you, despises
his tools more than I do, as in general every man does who is forced to
make use of them. Go on."

"The man who sent you that letter was Hycy Burke."

"Very likely," replied the cool old Still-Hound; "But I did not think he
would ever place us--"

"You, sir, if you please."

"Very well, me, sir, if you please, under such an important obligation
to him. How do you know, though, that it was he who sent it?"

His nephew then related the circumstance of his meeting with Nanny
Peety, and the discovery he had made through