ompany us to the county gaol, Sir; where I'll hand in your
committal.'

'Dr. Toole, I presume, may dress my arm?'

'Certainly, Sir.'

'Good! what more?'

'There's a coach at the door, you'll please to step in, Sir.'

'Good, Sir, again; and now permit me to make a remark. I submit, Sir, to
all this violence, and will go with you, under protest, and with a
distinct warning to you, Mr. Lowe, and to your respectable body-guard of
prize-fighters and ruffians--how many?--two, four, five, six, upon my
honour, counting the gentleman upon the floor, and yourself, Sir--seven,
pitted against one old fellow, ha, ha, ha!--a distinct warning, Sir,
that I hold you accountable for this outrage, and all its consequences.'

'See to that man; I'm afraid he has killed him,', said Lowe.

He was not dead, however, but, as it seemed, suffering intense pain, and
unable to speak except in a whisper. They got him up with his back to
the wall.

'You issue a warrant against another man whom I believe to be dead, and
execute it upon _me_--rather an Irish proceeding, Sir; but, perhaps, if
not considered impertinent, you will permit me to enquire what is the
particular offence which that other person has committed, and for which
you have been pleased to shoot me?'

'You may read it on the warrant, Sir; 'tis for a murderous assault on
Doctor Sturk.'

'Hey? better and better! why, I'm ready to pay five hundred guineas to
make him speak; and you'll soon find how expensive a blunder you've
committed, Sir,' observed Dangerfield, with a glare of menace through
his hollow smile.

'I'll stand that hazard, Sir,' rejoined Lowe, with a confident sneer.

The dreadful sounds of the brief scuffle had called up the scared and
curious servants. The smell of the pistol-smoke, the sight of blood, the
pale faces of the angry and agitated men, and the spectacle of their
master, mangled, ghastly, and smiling, affrighted Mrs. Jukes; and the
shock and horror expressed themselves in tears and distracted
lamentations.

'I must have your keys, Sir, if you please,' said Mr. Lowe.

'A word first--here, Jukes,' he addressed his housekeeper; 'stop that,
you fool!' (she was blubbering loudly) ''tis a mistake, I tell you; I
shall be back in an hour. Meanwhile, here are my keys; let Mr. Lowe,
there, have them whenever he likes--all my papers, Sir (turning to
Lowe). I've nothing, thank Heaven! to conceal. Pour some port wine into
that large glass.'

And he drank i