n, was a very foolish and unpleasant
affair altogether."

"Nothing could be more so, my lord. It was altogether wrong on the part
of Dunroe, and so I told him."

"Could you not have prevented it, Mr. Norton?"

"Ha, ha, ha! very good, Lord Cullamore. Ask me could I prevent or check
a flash of lightning. Upon my soul and honor, the thing was over, and my
poor friend down, before you could say 'Jack Robinson'--hem!--as we say
in Connaught."

"You have travelled, too, with my son, Mr. Norton, and he is perfectly
sensible of the services you have rendered him during his tour."

"God forbid, my Lord Cullamore, that I should assume any superiority
over poor, kind-hearted, and honorable Dunroe; but as you are his
father, my lord, I may--and with pride and satisfaction I do it--put the
matter on its proper footing, and say, that Dunroe travelled with me.
The thing is neither here nor there, of course, nor would I ever allude
to it unless as a proof of my regard and affection for him."

"That only enhances your kindness, Mr. Norton."

"Why, my lord, I met Dunroe in Paris--no matter, I took him out of some
difficulties, and prevented him from getting into more. He had been set
by a clique of--but I will not dwell on this, it looks like egotism--I
said before, I took a fancy to him--for it frequently happens, my good
lord, that you take a fancy to the person you have served."

"True enough, indeed, Mr. Norton."

"I am fond of travelling, and was about to make my fourth or fifth tour,
when I met your son, surrounded by a crew of--but I have alluded to this
a moment ago. At all events, I saw his danger--a young man exposed to
temptation--the most alluring and perilous. Well, my lord, mine was
a name of some weight and authority, affording just the kind of
countenance and protection your son required. Well, I travelled with
him, guarded him, guided him, for as to any inconvenience I may myself
have experienced in taking him by the most comprehensive routes, and
some other matters, they are not worth naming. Of course I introduced
him to some of the most distinguished men of France--to the Marquis De
Fogleville, for instance, the Count Rapscallion, Baron Snottellin, and
some others of the first rank and nobility of the country. The pleasure
of his society, however, more than compensated me for all."

"But, pardon me, Mr. Norton, I believe the title and family of De
Fogleville have been extinct. The last of them was guillotin