the priest, "that you cannot be taken by surprise;
because I myself told you the substance of the strong suspicions that
are against you."

Bryan M'Mahon now entered, and was cordially greeted by Vanston--and we
may add rather kindly, in manner at least, by Chevydale.

"By the way," asked the former of these gentlemen, "does this
investigation bear in any way upon your interests, M'Mahon?"

"Not, sir, so far as I am aware of--I come here because Father Magowan
wished me to come. I have no interests connected with this country
now," he added in a tone of deep melancholy, "there's an end to that for
ever."

"Now, my good girl," said Chevydale, "you will state all you know
connected with these Hogans fully and truly--that is, neither more nor
less than the truth."

"All the truth, Nanny," said Kate Hogan, in a voice of strongly
condensed power; "Hycy Burke," she proceeded, "you ruined Bryan
M'Mahon here--and, by ruinin' him, you broke Miss Kathleen Cavanagh's
heart--she's gone--no docthor could save her now; and for this you'll
soon know what Kate Hogan can do. Go on, Nanny."

"Well, gintlemon," Nanny began, "in the first place it was Mr. Hycy here
that got the Still up in Ahadarra, in ordher to beggar Bryan M'Mahon by
the fine."

Hycy laughed. "Excellent!" said he; "Why, really, Mr. Chevydale, I did
not imagine that you could suffer such a farce as this is likely to turn
out to be enacted exactly in your office."

"Enacted! well, that's, appropriate at any rate," said the schoolmaster;
"but in the mane time, Mr. Hycy, take care that the farce won't become
a tragedy on your hands, and you yourself the hero of it. Proceed,
girsha."

"How do you know," asked Chevydale, "that this charge is true?"

"If I don't know it," she replied, "my aunt here does,--and I think so
does Mr. Harry Clinton an' others."

"Pray, my woman, what do you know about this matter?" asked Chevydale,
addressing Kate.

"Why that it was Mr. Hycy Burke that gave the Hogans the money to make
the Still, set it up--and to Teddy Phats to buy barley; and although he
didn't tell them it was to ruin Bryan M'Mahon he did it, sure they all
knew it was--'spishly when he made them change from Glendearg above,
where they were far safer, down to Ahadarra."

"I assure you, gentlemen," said Hycy, "that the respectability of the
witnesses you have fished up is highly creditable to your judgments
and sense of justice;--a common vagabond and notorious thie