ot
for a hundred, that the Castle should come to know that I was addressed
as Fitzy."

The proctor's mirth was again renewed, but after a moment or two, the
serious part of the conversation was resumed by the magistrate.

"Your son John, the other morning," he proceeded, in a low
and confidential tone, "hinted to me that you had partly
discovered--hem--ahem--a very important circumstance--in short, that you
had partly, if not altogether, discovered a--a conspiracy."

The proctor stared at him with unaffected surprise, which, by the way,
did not escape the magistrate's notice. "A conspiracy!" he added, "and
did John tell you this?"

"Why, not exactly," replied O'Driscol, fearing that the young man, as
we have already hinted, had been indiscreet, and consequently wished
to keep him as much out of blame as possible; "not exactly, my dear
Mat--hem--my dear Mr. Purcel, but you know that I am rather sharp--a
penetratin' fellow in my way, or I would not be of the commission
to-day--he seemed merely to drop the expression accidentally only."

"I pledge my honor to you," replied the proctor, who at once saw through
the hoax that his son had played off upon him, "that the young rascal
had no authority from me for mentioning a single syllable about it."

"Well, but, I trust, my dear Ma--Mr; Purcel, that you are not angry with
him, especially for having mentioned it to me at any rate."

"Why, my dear friend," said the other, "if the time were come, you are
the first man to whom I would disclose the circumstance, but the fact
simply is, that it is not ripe yet."

"Even so; you will have no objection, I trust, to let me know something
of the nature of it--even now."

"It is impossible!" replied the proctor, "quite out of my power; if I
breathe a syllable about it, the whole matter must be blown before the
proper time, and then--"

"Well, and what then?--proceed."

"Why, neither you nor I would be one moment safe; and in that case, it
is much more prudent that you should not know it--God forbid that I,
above all men, should be the person to involve you in risk and danger.
Your own ardor and excessive loyalty expose you--to dangers enough, and
too many."

"You promise, however, when the proper time comes, to make me acquainted
with it?"

"Certainly, when the proper time comes; and if the thing ripen at all,
you shall hear of it."

"But listen," asked O'Driscol, licking his lips as a man would when
thinking of a good