d deserve no particular respect or attention at my hands.
I suppose that this morning has concluded all necessary intercourse
between us; and if you have satisfied my friend Captain Bubbleton--"

"Perfectly, perfectly. Another cup of tea, if you please. Yes, nothing
could be more gratifying than Mr. Basset's conduct; you are merely
to sign the receipt for the legacy, and he hands you over one hundred
pounds. Isn't that it?"

"Yes, quite correct; my bill for one hundred at three months."

"That's what I mean. But surely you're not done breakfast; why, Tom,
you 've eaten nothing. I have been picking away this half hour, just to
encourage you a bit. Well, well! I lunch in Stephen's Green at three; so
here goes."

Mr. Basset now took from his pocket-book some papers, which, having
glanced his eye over, he handed to me.

"This is a kind of acknowledgment, Mr. Burke, for the receipt of a
legacy to which you could be only entitled on attaining your majority.
Here are your indentures to me; and this is my acceptance for one
hundred pounds."

"I am content," said I, eagerly, as I seized the pen. The thought of
my liberty alone filled my mind, and I cared little for the conditions
provided I secured that.

Basset proffered his hand. I was in no humor to reject anything that
even simulated cordiality; I shook it heartily. Bubbleton followed
my example, and having pledged himself to see more of his pleasant
acquaintance, thrust his arm through mine and bustled out; adding, in a
tone loud enough to be overheard,--

"Made a capital fight of it; told him you were a Defender, a United
Irishman, a Peep-o'-day Boy, and all that sort of thing. Devilish glad
to get rid of you, even on Miss Nelly's account."

And so he rattled away without ceasing, until we found ourselves at the
George's Street Barracks, my preoccupation of mind preventing my even
having remarked what way we came.

CHAPTER XVIII. THE CAPTAIN'S QUARTERS

I WAS not sorry to find that Miss Bubbleton did not respond to the noisy
summons of the captain, as he flourished about from one room to the
other, making the quarters echo to the sweet name of "Anna Maria."
"Saladin," "Grimes," "Peter," were also shouted out unsuccessfully;
and with a fierce menace against various grooms of the chambers,
waiting-men, and lackeys, who happily were still unborn, Bubbleton flung
himself into a seat, and began to conjecture what had become of the
inhabitants.

"She's paying