had become quite reconciled to my rival in that time; made a point of
calling at his lodgings, and speedily became an intimate consoler of his
bed-side. He had a gentleman to whom I did not neglect to be civil, and
towards whom I ordered my people to be particular in their attentions;
for I was naturally anxious to learn what my Lord George's position with
the lady of Castle Lyndon had really been, whether other suitors were
about the widow, and how she would bear the news of his wound.

The young nobleman himself enlightened me somewhat upon the subjects I
was most desirous to inquire into.

'Chevalier,' said he to me one morning when I went to pay him my
compliments, 'I find you are an old acquaintance with my kinswoman, the
Countess of Lyndon. She writes me a page of abuse of you in a letter
here; and the strange part of the story is this, that one day when there
was talk about you at Castle Lyndon, and the splendid equipage you were
exhibiting in Dublin, the fair widow vowed and protested she never had
heard of you.

'"Oh yes, mamma," said the little Bullingdon, "the tall dark man at Spa
with the cast in his eye, who used to make my governor tipsy and sent me
the sword: his name is Mr. Barry."

'But my Lady ordered the boy out of the room, and persisted in knowing
nothing about you.'

'And are you a kinsman and acquaintance of my Lady Lyndon, my Lord?'
said I, in a tone of grave surprise.

'Yes, indeed,' answered the young gentleman. 'I left her house but to
get this ugly wound from you. And it came at a most unlucky time too.'

'Why more unlucky now than at another moment?'

'Why, look you, Chevalier, I think the widow was not unpartial to me. I
think I might have induced her to make our connection a little closer:
and faith, though she is older than I am, she is the richest party now
in England.'

'My Lord George,' said I, 'will you let me ask you a frank but an odd
question?--will you show me her letters?'

'Indeed I'll do no such thing,' replied he, in a rage.

'Nay, don't be angry. If _I_ show you letters of Lady Lyndon's to me,
will you let me see hers to you?'

'What, in Heaven's name, do you mean, Mr. Barry?' said the young
gentleman.

'_I_ mean that I passionately loved Lady Lyndon. I mean that I am
a--that I rather was not indifferent to her. I mean that I love her to
distraction at this present moment, and will die myself, or kill the man
who possesses her before me.'

'YOU marry the gr