e was singular;' and the clergyman of the parish, who was at
breakfast, declared 'that he was a man of uncommon knowledge, merit, and
politeness.'

'All I know of him,' said Heathcock, 'is, that he is a great sportsman,
with a long queue, a gold-laced hat, and long skirts to a laced
waistcoat.' Lord Colambre expressed a wish to see this extraordinary
personage; and Lady Dashfort, to cover her former design, and, perhaps,
thinking absence might be as effectual as too much propinquity,
immediately offered to call upon the officers in their way, and carry
them with Heathcock and Lord Colambre to Halloran Castle.

Lady Isabel retired with much mortification, but with becoming grace;
and Captain Benson and Captain Williamson were taken to the count's.
Captain Benson, who was a famous WHIP, took his seat on the box of the
barouche, and the rest of the party had the pleasure of her
ladyship's conversation for three or four miles: of her ladyship's
conversation--for Lord Colambre's thoughts were far distant; Captain
Williamson had not anything to say; and Heathcock nothing but, 'Eh!
re'lly now!--'pon honour!'

They arrived at Halloran Castle--a fine old building, part of it
in ruins, and part repaired with great judgment and taste. When the
carriage stopped, a respectable-looking man-servant appeared on the
steps, at the open hall-door.

Count O'Halloran was out a-hunting; but his servant said 'that he would
be at home immediately, if Lady Dashfort and the gentlemen would be
pleased to walk in.'

On one side of the lofty and spacious hall stood the skeleton of an elk;
on the other side, the perfect skeleton of a moose-deer, which, as
the servant said, his master had made out, with great care, from the
different bones of many of this curious species of deer, found in the
lakes in the neighbourhood. The brace of officers witnessed their wonder
with sundry strange oaths and exclamations.--'Eh! 'pon honour--re'lly
now!' said Heathcock; and, too genteel to wonder at or admire anything
in the creation, dragged out his watch with some difficulty, saying, 'I
wonder now whether they are likely to think of giving us anything to eat
in this place?' And, turning his back upon the moose-deer, he straight
walked out again upon the steps, called to his groom, and began to make
some inquiry about his led horse. Lord Colambre surveyed the prodigious
skeletons with rational curiosity, and with that sense of awe and
admiration, by which a s