rted good friends,--at
least, as much so as a poor man like myself could be to a born gentleman
like him."

"That he did," cried Grounsell, eagerly; "and young Mr. Dalton is not
the man to think the worse of your friendship because you are not his
equal in rank."

"I see,--I believe I see it all," said Meekins, with the same
sententious slowness as before. "Now look, doctor," added he, fixing
a cold and steady stare on the other's features, "it is late in the
night,--not far from twelve o'clock,--and I ask you, would n't it be
better for you to be asleep in your bed, and leave me to rest quietly in
mine, rather than be fencing--ay, fencing here--with one another, trying
who is the deepest? Just answer me that, sir."

"You want to offend me," said Grounsell, rising.

"No, sir; but it would be offending yourself to suppose that it was
worth your while to deceive the like of me,--a poor, helpless man,
without a friend in the world."

"I own I don't understand you, Meekins," said Grounsell, reseating
himself.

"There's nothing so easy, sir, if you want to do it If Mr. Dalton told
you what passed between us to-night, you know what advice you gave him;
and if he did not tell you, faix! neither will I--that's all. _He_ knows
what I have in my power. He was fool enough not to take me at my word.
Maybe I would n't be in the same mind again."

"Come, come," said Grounsell, good-humoredly, "this is not spoken like
yourself. It can be no object with you to injure a young gentleman who
never harmed you; and if, in serving him, you can serve yourself, the
part will be both more sensible and more honorable."

"Well, then," said Meekins, calmly, "I _can_ serve him; and now comes
the other question, 'What will he do for _me?_'"

"What do you require from him?"

"To leave this place at once,--before morning," said the other,
earnestly. "I don't want to see them that might make me change my mind;
to be on board of a ship at Waterford, and away out of Ireland forever,
with three hundred pounds,--I said two, but I 'll want three,--and for
that--for that "--here he hesitated some seconds,--"for that I 'll do
what I promised."

"And this business will never be spoken of more."

"Eh! what?" cried Meekins, starting.

"I mean that when your terms are complied with, what security have we
that you 'll not disclose this secret hereafter?"

Meekins slowly repeated the other's words twice over to himself, as if
to weigh every sylla