d, for he saw by the
elation of Hoare's features with what triumph this avowal had been
listened to. "And now, sir, enough has been said of this; I come back to
my former question,--How came you by this paper?"

"I received it from Don Pedro, with whom I have had much business
intercourse, and who left it in my hands a few days back."

"Then he is in this country?" said Cashel, anxiously.

Hoare nodded an assent.

"Here, in Ireland! and is Mari--" He stopped suddenly, remembering to
whom he was speaking; but Hoare, as if eager to show an intimacy with
names and events, said,--

"Yes, sir, she is also here."

Cashel became silent, his mind a very chaos of confused
thought,--memories of his buccaneer life, its lawless habits, its wild
companionship, its adventures of love and war, of play, of heroism, and
of mad debauch. The villa and Maritana were before him as last he saw
her at the fountain; and from these he came to his fine and lordly
friendships, with all their fictitious warmth; and he began to fancy how
would his present society--the very guests at that moment beneath his
roof--receive or recognize his old associates!

The deep pre-occupation of his look suggested to Tiernay's mind the
notion that Cashel was overwhelmed by the intelligence he had just
received, and drawing close to him, he said, in a whisper,--

"That fellow is watching and enjoying your confusion; put a bolder face
on the matter, and we 'll see what is best to be done."

Roland started, and then, as if by an effort chasing away an unpleasant
thought, he said to Hoare,--

"Our first business is Mr. Corrigan's. The sum due is--"

"Three thousand seven hundred and forty."

"Will you accept my bill for this?"

"At what date, sir?" said Hoare, cautiously.

"At whatever date you please; a month or a week."

"A month be it."

"Does that release Mr. Corrigan from every claim so far as your
principal is concerned?"

"All, up to this date."

"By which, probably, you would imply, that new liabilities may begin
again. Is that so?"

"I think, from the nature of Mr. Leicester's claim, such an event is not
impossible."

"Never mind the threat," whispered Tiernay; "it is but a threat."

"As to the other affair," said Cashel, approaching Hoare, "I will
accompany you to town. I will see Don Pedro myself."

"That will be difficult, sir. I am not at liberty to mention his place
of abode; nor does he wish his presence here to be known."