ications."
Anthony had laid down his head upon his hands, whose backs were
supported by the table; and in this position, as' if he were working
himself into an act of virtue sufficient for a last effort, he remained
until the stranger began to wonder what he meant. At length he arose,
went up stairs as on a former occasion, but with less--and not much
less--hesitation and delay; he returned and handed him the identical
documents of which M'Bride had deprived him. "Now," said he, "listen to
me. You know the value of these; but that isn't what I want to spake to
you about.--Whatever you do about the widow's son, don't do it without
lettin' me know, and consultin' me--ay, and bein' guided by me; for
although you all think yourselves right, you may find, yourselves in the
wrong box still. Think of this now, and it will be better for you. I'm
not sure, but I'll open all your eyes yet, and that before long; for
I believe the time has come at last. Now that I've given you these
papers," (extracted, by the way, from M'Bride's pockets during his
drunkenness, by Ginty Cooper, on the night she dogged him,) "you must
promise me one thing."
"What is that?"
"I suppose you know where this boy is? Now, when you're goin' to find
him, will you bring me with you?"
"Why so?"
"It'll plaise an ould man, at any rate; but there may be other raisons.
Will, you do this?"
The stranger, concluding that the wisest tiring was to give him his way,
promised accordingly, and. the old man seemed somewhat satisfied.
"One man, at all events, I'll punish, if I should sacrifice every child
I have in doin' so; and it is in order that he may be punished to the
heart--to the marrow--to the soul within him--that I got these papers,
and gave them to you."
"Corbet," said the stranger, "be the cause of your revenge what it may,
its principle in your heart is awful. You are, in fact, a dreadful old
man. May I ask how you came by these papers?"
"You may," he replied; "but I won't answer you. At a future time it is
likely I will--but not now. It's enough for you to have them."
On his way home the stranger called at Birney's office, where he
produced the documents; and it was arranged that the latter gentleman
should wait upon Lord Cullamore the next day, in order to lay before him
the proofs on which they were about to proceed; for, as they were now
complete, they thought it more respectful to that venerable old nobleman
to appeal privately to
|