n the new landlord
himself was about to visit them; from listening to their sanguine
expectations of benefits; and now, within some few days, from hearing
the low mutterings of their discontent,--the prelude of worse than
that."

"I have seen nothing else than the same scenes for forty years, but
I never remember the people more regular in their payments," said the
attorney.

"Well, don't venture among the Drumcoologhan boys alone; that, at least,
I would recommend you," said the doctor, menacingly.

"Why not?--who are they?--where are these fellows?" cried Cashel, for
danger was a theme that never failed to stir his heart.

"It 's a bad barony, sir," said Kennyfeck, solemnly.

"A district that has supplied the gallows and the convict-ship for many
a year; but we are wandering away from the theme we ought to discuss,"
interposed Tiernay, "and the question narrows itself to this; if this
property is still yours,--if you have not already consigned it to
another,--what is my friend's interest worth?"

"That will require calculation and reflection."

"Neither, Mr. Kennyfeck," broke in Cashel. "Learn Mr. Corrigan's
expectations, and see that they are complied with."

"My friend desired a small annuity on the life of his granddaughter."

"Be it an annuity, then," replied Cashel.

"By heaven!" exclaimed Tiernay, as if he could not restrain the impulse
that worked within him, "you are a fine-hearted fellow. Here, sir," said
he, taking a paper from his pocket,--"here is a document, which my poor
friend sat up half the night to write, but which I'd half made up my
mind never to give you. You'd never guess what it is, nor your keen
friend either, but I 'll spare you the trouble of spelling it over. It's
a renunciation of Cornelius Corrigan, Esq., for himself and his
heirs forever, of all right, direct or contingent, to the estate
of Tubbermore, once the family property of his ancestors for eleven
generations. You never heard of such a claim," said Tiernay, turning
to Cashel, "but Mr. Kennyfeck did; he knows well the importance of that
piece of paper he affects to treat with such indifference."

"And do you suppose, sir, that if this claim you speak of be a good and
valid one, I could, as a man of honor, maintain a possession to which I
had no right? No; let Mr. Corrigan take back that paper; let him try his
right, as the laws enable him. If I stand not here as the just owner of
this house, I am ready to leave it at th