voice proceeded; "That's the word, I think, captain."

"By my shoul, Mr. Francis Ardry, you enter with considerable abruptness,
sir," said one of two men who were seated smoking at a common deal table,
in a large ruinous apartment in which we now found ourselves. "You enter
with considerable abruptness sir," he repeated; "do you know on whom you
are intruding?"

"Perfectly well," said Francis; "I am standing in the presence of
Torlough O' Donahue, formerly captain in a foreign service, and at
present resident in London for the express purpose of beating all the
English--"

"And some of the Irish too, sir, if necessary," said the captain with a
menacing look. "I do not like to be broken in upon as if I were a
nobody. However, as you are here, I suppose I must abide by it. I am
not so little of a gentleman as to be deficient in the rudiments of
hospitality. You may both of you sit down and make yourselves aisy."

But this was no such easy matter, the only two chairs in the room being
occupied by the captain and the other. I therefore leaned against the
door, while Ardry strolled about the apartment.

The captain might be about forty. His head was immensely large, his
complexion ruddy, and his features rough, coarse and strongly expressive
of sullenness and ill-nature. He was about the middle height, with a
frame clumsily made, but denoting considerable strength. He wore a blue
coat, the lappets of which were very narrow, but so long that they nearly
trailed upon the ground. Yellow leathern breeches unbuttoned at the
knee, dazzling white cotton stockings and shoes with buckles, adorned his
nether man.

His companion, who was apparently somewhat older than himself, was
dressed in a coarse greatcoat and a glazed hat exactly resembling those
worn by hackneys. He had a quiet, droll countenance, very much studded
with carbuncles, and his nose, which was very long, was of so hooked a
description that the point of it nearly entered his mouth.

"Who may this friend of yours be?" said the captain to Ardry, after
staring at me.

"A young gentleman much addicted to philosophy, poetry and philology."

"Is he Irish?"

"No, he is English; but I have heard him say that he has a particular
veneration for Ireland."

"He has, has he; by my shoul, then, all the better for him. If he had
not . . . Can he fight?"

"I think I have heard him say that he can use his fists when necessary."

"He can, can he? by my shoul,