I did not suspect."

"The man, my good friend, is probably not worse in general than others,"
replied Vanston; "but the truth is, that there has been such a laxity
of management in Irish property--such indifference and neglect upon our
part, and such gross ignorance of our duties, that agents were, and in
most cases are, at liberty to act as they please in our names, and under
show of our authority; you can scarcely suppose this man, consequently,
much worse than others who are placed in similar circumstances."

The dialogue was here interrupted by the entrance of old Clinton and his
nephew; but, as our readers are already in possession of the proofs they
brought against Hycy Burke and Fethertonge, it is not necessary that we
should detail there conversation at full length.

"I must confess," said Clinton, "that I would have some reason to feel
ashamed of my part in the transactions with respect to Ahadarra, were it
not, in the first place, that I have never been much afflicted with the
commodity; and, in the next, that these transactions are too common to
excite any feeling one way or the other."

"But you must have known, Clinton," said Chevydale, "that it was a most
iniquitous thing in you to enter into a corrupt bargain with a dishonest
agent for the property which you knew to belong to another man."

"What other man, Mr. Chevydale? Had not M'Mahon's lease expired?"

"But had you not in your own possession my father's written
promise--written, too, on his death-bed--to these honest men, that they
should have their leases renewed?"

"Yes, but that was your agent's affair, and his dishonesty, too, not
mine."

"As much yours as his; and, by the way, I don't see upon what principle
you, who are equally involved with him in the profligacy of the
transaction, should come to bear testimony against him now. They say
there is honor among thieves, but I see very little of it here."

"Faith, to tell you the truth," replied Clinton, "as I said to Harry
here, because _I like to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not
prepared for it_."

"Well," said Chevydale, with a very solemn ironical smile, "I am myself
very much of your way of thinking; and, as a proof of it, I beg to say
that, as your appointment to the office of Supervisor has not yet been
made out, I shall write to my brother, the Commissioner, to take
care that it never shall. To procure the promotion of a man who can
deliberately avow his participati