n, sir, and many thanks to
you, I'll wish you a good evening, and Mr O'Rourke shall know from me
that you have absolution for the whole, and that you have offered every
satisfaction which one gentleman could expect from another." So saying
Mr O'Donaghan put his hat on with a firm cock, pulled on his gloves,
manoeuvred his stick, and, with a flourishing bow, took his departure.

I had hardly dismissed this gentleman, and was laughing to myself at the
ridiculous occurrence, when Mr Cophagus returned, first putting his
cane up to his nose with an arch look, and then laying it down on the
table and rubbing his hands. "Good--warm old lady. No--dead and cold--
but left some thousands--only one legacy--old Tom cat--physic him
to-morrow--soon die, and so on."

On a more full explanation, I found that the old lady had left about
nine thousand pounds in the funds and bank securities, all of which,
with the exception of twenty pounds per annum to a favourite cat, was
left to Mr Cophagus. I congratulated him upon this accession of
fortune. He stated that the lease of the house and the furniture were
still to be disposed of, and that afterwards he should have nothing more
to do; but he wished me very much to assist him in rummaging over the
various cabinets belonging to the old lady, and which were full of
secret drawers; that in one cabinet alone he had found upwards of fifty
pounds in various gold coins, and that if not well examined, they would
probably be sold with many articles of consequence remaining in them.

As my only object in Ireland was to find out Sir Henry de Clare, and
identify him, (but, really, why I could not have said, as it would have
proved nothing after all,) I willingly consented to devote a day to
assist Mr Cophagus in his examination. The next morning after
breakfast, we went together to the house of the old lady, whose name had
been Maitland, as Mr Cophagus informed me. Her furniture was of the
most ancient description, and in every room in the house there was an
ormolu, or Japan cabinet; some of them were very handsome, decorated
with pillars, and silver ornaments. I can hardly recount the variety of
articles, which in all probability had been amassed during the whole of
the old lady's life, commencing with her years of childhood, and ending
with the day of her death. There were antique ornaments, some of
considerable value, miniatures, fans, etuis, notes, of which the ink,
from time, had turne