'And he must double the bag, or quit,' said Sir Terence.

'Treble it, if you please, Terry. Sure, three times five's
fifteen;--fifteen hundred down, or he does not get my signature to
those leases for his brother, nor get the agency of the Colambre
estate.--Colambre, what more have you to tell of him? for, since he is
making out his accounts against me, it is no harm to have a PER CONTRA
against him that may ease my balance.'

'Very fair! very fair!' said Sir Terence. 'My lord, trust me for
remembering all the charges against him--every item; and when he can't
clear himself, if I don't make him buy a good character dear enough,
why, say I'm a fool, and don't know the value of character, good or
bad!'

'If you know the value of character, Sir Terence,' said Lord Colambre,
'you know that it is not to be bought or sold.' Then, turning from Sir
Terence to his father, he gave a full and true account of all he had
seen in his progress through his Irish estates; and drew a faithful
picture both of the bad and good agent. Lord Clonbrony, who had
benevolent feelings, and was fond of his tenantry, was touched; and,
when his son ceased speaking, repeated several times--

'Rascal! rascal! How dare he use my tenants so--the O'Neills in
particular!--Rascal! bad heart!-I'll have no more to do with him.' But,
suddenly recollecting himself, he turned to Sir Terence, and added,
'That's sooner said than done--I'll tell you honestly, Colambre, your
friend Mr. Burke may be the best man in the world--but he is the worst
man to apply to for a remittance, or a loan, in a HURRY! He always tells
me "he can't distress the tenants."'--'And he never, at coming into
the agency even,' said Sir Terence, 'ADVANCED a good round sum to the
landlord, by way of security for his good behaviour. Now honest Nick did
that much for us at coming in.'

'And at going out is he not to be repaid?' said Lord Colambre.

'That's the devil!' said Lord Clonbrony; that's the very reason I can't
conveniently turn him out.'

'I will make it convenient to you, sir, if you will permit me,' said
Lord Colambre. 'In a few days I shall be of age, and will join with you
in raising whatever sum you want, to free you from this man. Allow me to
look over his account; and whatever the honest balance may be, let him
have it.'

'My dear boy!' said Lord Clonbrony, 'you're a generous fellow. Fine
Irish heart!--glad you're my son! But there's more, much more, that you
don't know,