, I shall--hem--I shall always administer justice
impartially--impartially--no one can question that. Your case," he
added--(for we must say here that Hourigan's language brought back to
his mind all the horrors of Tandrem's death, as well as that threatened
to himself in the recent notice)--"your case, Hourigan is a difficult
and peculiar one, poor man!"

"Hourigan, my good fellow," said Purcel, "take care of what you are
about. Don't be too certain that some of your neighbors won't find you,
before you are much older, in the centre of a deep-laid conspiracy; and
perhaps the government of the country may have an opportunity before
long to thank and reward those who will have it exposed and broken up.
Do you understand me?"

Purcel, while he spoke, kept his eyes fixed very significantly upon the
magistrate, to whose imagination a long and interesting correspondence
with his friend, the Castle, started immediately forth, appended to
which were votes of thanks, flattering testimonies, together with a
stipendiary magistracy, with a full retiring pension, and an appointment
for his son, in the background.

"He has made use of that language to intimidate your worship," proceeded
Purcel, but I think he ought to know you better."

"Sir," said O'Driscol, addressing Hourigan, "what did you mane by
talking about shooting magistrates? Do you think, sirrah, to frighten
me--Fitzgerald O'Driscol--from discharging my duty?"

"Frighten, you, sir! oh! bedad, your honor, you aren't the gintleman for
that."

"No, sir, I believe not--I believe not, Hourigan; no, my poor man, I am
not indeed. Hourigan, you are not an uncivil person, but why refuse to
pay your tithes? You are well able to do it."

"Why, bekaise I daren't, sir; if I did--talkin' about shootin'--it's
a round lump of lead I would find in my stomach instead o' my poor
breakfast, some o' these days."

"I don't doubt but he is right enough there, your worship," observed
Purcel, "there's a conspiracy--"

"Yes," exclaimed the magistrate, "oh! ay!--yes!--hem--a conspiracy!
Well--no matter--let it rest for a little. Well--as this case is one
of great difficulty, involving several profound points of law, I would
recommend you to make it up, and be friends. Hourigan, you will forgive
Mr. Purcel, who is hasty but generous. You will forgive him, I say, and
he will give you something in the shape of a--salve for your wounds.
Come, forgive him, Hourigan, and I will overlook, on m