I will
remain in Rathfillan for a fortnight, and shall see you again," he
added, addressing himself to Charles. "Now," he proceeded, "mark me, you
will require neither drinks nor medicine of any description. Whatever
drinks you take, take them at the common table of the family. There are
circumstances connected with your case which, as a magistrate of the
county, I am I resolved to investigate."

He looked sternly at Woodward as he uttered the last words, and then
took his departure to Rathfillan, having first told Barney Casey to call
on him the next day.

After Greatrakes had gone, Woodward repaired to the room of his mother,
in a state of agitation which we cannot describe.

"Mother," said he, "unless we can manage that old peer and his niece, I
am a lost man."

"Do not be uneasy," replied his mother; "whilst you were at Ballyspellan
I contrived to manage that. Ask me nothing about it; but every
arrangement is made, and you are to be married this day week. Keep
yourself prepared for a settled case."

What the mother's arguments in behalf of the match may have been, we
cannot pretend to say. We believe that Miss Riddle's attachment to his
handsome person and gentlemanly manners overcame all objections on the
part of her uncle, and nothing now remained to stand in the way of their
union.

The next day Barney Casey waited upon Greatrakes, according to
appointment, when the following conversation took place between them:--

"Now," said Greatrakes, solemnly, "what is your name?"

As he put the question with a stern and magisterial air, his tablets and
pencil in hand, which he did with the intention of awing Barney into a
full confession of the exact truth--a precaution which Barney's romance
of the windy colic induced him to take,--"I say," he repeated, "what's
your name?"

Barney, seeing the pencil and tablets in hand, and besides not being
much, or at all, acquainted with magisterial investigations, felt rather
blank, and somewhat puzzled at this query.

He accordingly resorted to the usage of the country, and commenced
scratching a rather round bullet head.

"My name, your honor," he replied; "my name, couldn't you pass that by,
sir?"

"No," said Greatrakes, "I cannot pass it by. In this business it is
essential that I should know it."

"Ay," replied Barney, "but maybe you have some treacherous design in it,
and that you are goin' to take the part of the wealthy scoundrel against
the poor man; and ev