a
few moments with the rubicund Cerberus I have mentioned, beckoned to me
to follow him. We proceeded accordingly up a narrow creaking stair,
into a kind of front drawing-room, in which about a dozen persons were
seated, or listlessly lounging in every imaginable attitude--some on
chairs, some on the window-sills, some on the tables, and one even on
the mantel-piece, with his legs gracefully dangling in front of the
fire. Perfectly distinct from the other two classes I have mentioned,
these were all young men whose dress, look, and bearing bespoke them of
rank and condition. Chatting away gaily, laughing, joking, and telling
good stories, they seemed but little to care for the circumstances which
brought them there; and, while they quizzed one another about their
various debts and difficulties, seemed to think want of money as about
the very best joke a gentleman could laugh at. By all of these O'Grady
was welcomed with a burst of applause, as they eagerly pressed forward
to shake hands with him.

'I say, O'Grady,' cried one, 'we muster strong this morning. I hope
Fagan's bank will stand the run on it. What 's your figure?'

'Oh, a couple of hundred,' said Phil carelessly; 'I have got rather a
heavy book on the steeplechase.'

'So I hear,' said another; 'and they say Ulick Burke won't ride for
you. He knows no one can sit the horse but himself; and Maher, the story
goes, has given him a hundred and fifty to leave you in the lurch!'

'How good!' said Phil, smiling; for although this intelligence came upon
him thus suddenly, he never evinced the slightest surprise nor the most
trifling irritation.

'You'll pay forfeit, of course, Phil,' said the gentleman on the
chimney.

'I fancy not.'

'Then will you take two fifties to one, against your horse?'

'Will you give it?' was the cool reply. 'Yes.'

'And I--and I also,' said different voices round the room.

'Agreed, gentlemen, with all of you. So, if you please, we 'll book
this. Jack, have you got a pencil?'

[Illustration: 202]

As I drew forth my pocket-book I could not help whispering to O'Grady
that there seemed something like a coalition among his opponents. Before
I could conclude, the red face appeared at the door. O'Grady hastily
muttered, 'Wait for me here,' and left the room.

During his absence I had abundant time to study those about me. Indeed,
a perfect sameness in their characters as in their pursuits rendered
it an easy process; for as with