ious draught to the dog which Woodward had insisted was unwell.
He happily escaped all observation, and accomplished his plan without
either notice or suspicion. He stayed in the kennel in order to watch
the effects of the potion upon the dog, who died in the course of about
fifteen minutes after having received it.

"Now," said Barney, "I think I have my thumb upon him, and it will go
hard with me or I will make him suffer for this hellish intention to
murder his brother. Mr. Greatrakes is a man of great wealth and high
rank; he is, besides, a magistrate of the county, and, please God, I
will disclose to him all that I have seen and suspect."

Barney, under the influence of these feelings, went to bed, satisfied
that he had saved the life of Charles Lindsay, at least for that night,
but at the same time resolved to bring his murderous brother to an
account for his conduct.

CHAPTER XXIII. Greatrakes at Work--Denouement

Greatrakes was on his way from Birch Grove to Rathnllan House the next
day when he was met by Barney Casey, who had been on the lookout for
him. Barney, who knew not his person, was not capable of determining
whether he was the individual whom he wanted or not. At all events he
resolved at once to ascertain that fact. Accordingly, putting his hand
to his hat, he said, with a respectful manner,--

"Pray, sir, are you the great Valentine Great Rooke, who prevents the
people from dyin'?"

"I am Valentine Greatrakes," he replied, with a smile; "but I cannot
prevent the people from dying."

"Begad, but you can prevent them from being sick, at any rate. I am
myself sometimes subject to a colic, bad luck to it--(this was a lie,
got up for the purpose of arresting the attention of Greatrakes)--and
maybe if you would be kind enough to rub me down you would drive the
wind out of me and cure me of it, for at least, by all accounts through
the whole parish, it's a windy colic that haunts me."

Greatrakes, who was a man of great goodnature, and strongly susceptible
of humor, laughed very heartily at Barney's account of his miserable
state of health.

"Well," said he, "my good friend, let me tell you that the colic you
speak of is one of the most healthy diseases we have. Don't, if you
regard your constitution, and your health, ever attempt to get rid of
it. Your constitution is a windy constitution, and that is the reason
why you are graciously afflicted with a windy colic."

It was, in fact, dia