intended to apply to anything in the conduct
of this transaction, sir," said Hoare, growing pale with passion as he
spoke, "I beg you to remember that there is such a thing in the land as
redress for libel."

"If the laws will warrant sixty per cent, they may well punish the man
who calls it infamy," said Tiernay, almost choking with anger.

"That will do, gentlemen, that will do," said Hoare, replacing the bills
in the pocket-book, while his fingers trembled with passion. "I was
not aware that your object in this meeting was to insult me; I 'll not
expose myself a second time to such a casualty. I 'll thank you to hand
me that bill, sir!" This request was addressed to Cashel, who, with his
eyes riveted on a document which he held in both hands, sat perfectly
unmindful of all around him.

"If you will have the kindness to give me that bill, sir?" said Hoare,
again.

"Shylock wants his bond," said Tiernay, who walked up and down the room
with clinched hands, and brows knitted into one deep furrow.

Hoare turned a scowling glance towards him, but not trusting himself to
reply, merely repeated his question to Cashel.

"How came you by this?" cried Roland, rising from the table, and holding
out a written paper towards Hoare; "I ask, sir, how came you by this?"
reiterated he, while the paper shook with the hand that held it.

"Oh! I perceive," said Hoare; "that document has no concern with the
case before us; it refers to another and very different transaction."

"This is no answer to my question, sir," said Cashel, sternly; "I asked,
and I ask you again, how it came into your hands?"

"Don't you think, sir, that it would be more appropriate to express your
regret at having examined a paper not intended to have been submitted to
you?" said Hoare, in a tone half insolent, half deferential.

"I saw my name upon it," said Cashel, "coupled, too, with that of
another, of whom I preserve too many memories to treat anything lightly
wherein he bears a part; besides, there can be but little indiscretion
in reading that to which I had attached my own signature. And now, once
more, sir, how do I see it in your possession?"

"Really, Mr. Cashel, when the question is put in this tone and manner, I
am much disposed to refuse an answer. I can see nothing in our relative
situations that can warrant the assumption of these airs towards _me_!"

"Shylock, again!" exclaimed Tiernay, who continued to pace the room
during this scene