ked his mind up to a
state of ungovernable fury. It was in the very paroxysm of this passion,
and while he was pacing the chamber with hasty steps, that Fagan
entered.

"Nothing unpleasant has occurred, sir, I trust," exclaimed the Grinder,
as he beheld the agitated face, and watched the lips that never ceased
to mutter unintelligibly.

"Tell me, sir," cried he, advancing up to Fagan, and placing one hand
upon his shoulder, "tell me, sir, what is there in my age and appearance
that should exclude me from exacting the satisfaction in vogue amongst
gentlemen? I ask you, sir, in plain language,--and you have a right
to answer me, for it was in your house and under your roof that I have
received this outrage,--where and what is my disqualification?"

"Pray explain yourself, Mr. Curtis. I trust I have n't heard you aright,
and that any one had dared to offend you within these walls!"

"Yes, sir, in the very room where we stand, not half an hour ago, an
insolent scoundrel of a foreigner--a French lackey, a hairdresser,
perhaps--has had the insolence to talk to me, a gentleman of fortune
and position, a man whose estate places him in the first rank of this
country's gentry. You said so yesterday. Don't deny it, sir; I quote
your own very words."

"I am most ready and willing to repeat them, Mr. Curtis," said Fagan,
humbly; "pray go on."

"You said yesterday," continued Curtis, "in the presence of two others,
that, except Lord Kiltimon's, there was not so large a property in the
country; did you, sir, or did you not?"

"I certainly did say so, sir."

"And now, sir, you would go back of it,--you had some reservation,
some qualifying something or other, I'll be bound; but I tell you,
Mr. Anthony Fagan, that though these habits may suit an apple-stall in
Mary's Abbey, they are unbecoming when used in the presence of men of
rank and fortune. I believe that is plain speaking, sir; I trust there
may be no misconception of my meaning, at least!"

Fagan was not, either by nature or by disposition, disposed to submit
tamely to insult; but whether it was from some strong reason of policy,
or that he held Curtis as one not fully responsible for his words, he
certainly took no steps to resent his language, but rather seemed eager
to assuage the violence of the old man's temper.

"It's all very well, sir," said Curtis, after listening with
considerable show of impatience to these excuses; "it's all very well
to say you regret t