ot think so?"

"For sound raisons, that no man knows better than yourself."

"I'm not the only person that thinks there's one too many of the family,
Morty. In that opinion I am ably supported by his lordship, just gone
out there."

"Where! Ay, I see whereabouts you are now. One too many--faith, so the
blessed pair of you think, no doubt."

"Eight, Morty; if the devil had the agency of the ancient earl's soul,
I would soon get that of his ancient property; but whilst he lives it
can't be accomplished. What do you imagine the old bawble wants with the
young one?"

"Well, I don't know; I'm hammerin' upon that for some time past, and
can't come at it."

"Come, then, let us get the materials first, and then put them on the
anvil of my imagination. _Imprimis_--which means, Morty, _in the first
place_, have you heard anything?"

"No; nothing to speak of."

"Well, in the second place, have you seen or observed anything?"

"Why, no; not much."

"Which means--both your answers included--that you have both heard and
seen--so I interpret 'nothing to speak of,' on the one hand, and your
'not much,' on the other. Out with it; two heads are better than one:
what you miss, I may hit."

"The devil's no match for you, Bar--Mr. Norton, and it's hard to expect
Dunroe should. I'll tell you, then--for, in troth, I'm as anxious to
come at the meanin' of it myself as you can be for the life of you. Some
few months ago, when we were in London, there came a man to me."

"Name him, Morty."

"His name was M'Bride."

"M'Bride--proceed."

"His name was M'Bride. His face was tanned into mahogany, just as every
man's is that has lived long in a hot country. 'Your name,' says he, 'is
O'Flaherty, I understand?'"

"'Morty O'Flaherty, at your sarvice,' says I, 'and how are you, sir? I'm
happy to see you; only in the mane time you have the advantage of me.'"

"'Many thanks to you,' said he, 'for your kind inquiries; as to the
advantage, I won't keep it long; only you don't seem to know your
relations.'"

"'Maybe not,' says I, 'they say it's a wise man that does. Are you one
o' them?'"

"'I'm one o' them, did you ever hear of ould Kid Flaherty?'"

"'Well, no; but I did of Buck Flaherty, that always went in boots and
buckskin breeches, and wore two watches and a silver-mounted whip.'"

"'Well, you must know that Kid was a son'--and here he pointed his thumb
over his left shoulder wid a knowin' grin upon him--'was a son of the
ou