she let him in, groaning, and saying--

'We was all done up for the night, PLASE your honour, and myself with
the toothache, very bad--And the lodger, that's going to take an egg
only, before he'd go into his bed. My man's in it, and asleep long ago.'

With a magisterial air, though with a look of blank disappointment, Mr.
Dennis Garraghty walked on, looked into THE ROOM, saw the good man
of the house asleep, heard him snore, and then, returning, asked Lord
Colambre 'who he was, and what brought him there?'

Our hero said he was from England, and a traveller; and now, bolder
grown as a geologist, he talked of his specimens, and his hopes of
finding a mine in the neighbouring mountains; then adopting, as well
as he could, the servile tone and abject manner in which he found Mr.
Dennis was to be addressed, 'he hoped he might get encouragement from
the gentleman at the head of the estate.'

'To bore, is it?--Well, don't BORE me about it. I can't give you any
answer now, my good friend; I'm engaged.'

Out he strutted. 'Stick to him up the town, if you have a mind to get
your answer,' whispered the woman. Lord Colambre followed, for he wished
to see the end of this scene.

'Well, sir, what are you following and sticking to me, like my shadow,
for?' said Mr. Dennis, turning suddenly upon Lord Colambre.

His lordship bowed low. 'Waiting for my answer, sir, when you are at
leisure.

Or, may I call upon you tomorrow?'

'You seem to be a civil kind of fellow; but, as to boring, I don't
know--if you undertake it at your own expense. I dare say there may be
minerals in the ground. Well, you may call at the castle to-morrow, and
when my brother has done with the tenantry, I'll speak to him FOR
you, and we'll consult together, and see what we think. It's too late
to-night. In Ireland, nobody speaks to a gentleman about business after
dinner--your servant, sir; anybody can show you the way to the castle
in the morning.' And, pushing by his lordship, he called to a man on
the other side of the street, who had obviously been waiting for him;
he went under a gateway with this man, and gave him a bag of guineas.
He then called for his horse, which was brought to him by a man whom
Colambre had heard declaring that he would bid for the land that
was advertised; whilst another, who had the same intentions, most
respectfully held St. Dennis's stirrup, whilst he mounted without
thanking either of these men. St. Dennis clapped spurs