has no command over himself in those paroxysms of
passion, which his folly and vanity are so constantly stirring up. But
is the case serious?"

"He will scarcely recover, sir," said Tiernay; "and it was because my
functions as a physician can be of so little benefit, that I ventured to
offer my services as a friend in the case, and give some counsel as to
what should be done."

"Most considerate, indeed," said Linton, but in an accent at once
impossible to say whether ironical or the reverse.

"I said, sir," resumed Tiernay, "that it would be becoming that no false
representation should obtain currency as to the origin of the illness,
nor that a momentary excitement of a feeble intellect should be assumed
as the settled conviction of a sound mind. My Lord Kilgoff has had
something like altercation with his wife, and being a weak and failing
man, with breaking faculties, has been seized with a paralytic attack."

"Very thoughtful, all this," said Linton, gravely; "pray command me in
any part of your plan where I may be serviceable."

"The plan is this," said Cashel: "here is a case where a terrible
calamity has befallen, and which can be made worse only by calumny. To
make the slanderer pay the heaviest penalty of his infamy--"

"Nay, nay; this is not our plan," said Tiernay, gently. "Lord Kilgoff's
attack must be spoken of without connection with any circumstances which
preceded it this evening. Nothing was more likely to occur than such a
seizure; his age, his late illness, his peculiar habit, all predisposed
to it."

"Just so," interposed Cashel, hastily; "and as none, save you, Linton,
and myself, know anything of the matter, it need never gain wider
publicity."

"Of course nothing can be easier than this. The Lady 'Janets' need never
hear a word more than you choose to tell them," said Linton.

"In a few days he will bear removal. Change will be necessary for him;
and, in fact, our caution is, doubtless, greater than the necessity
warrants," added Tiernay.

"You will, of course, leave everything to take its course in the house?"
said Linton. "To interfere with all the plans of pleasure would be to
give rise to malicious rumors."

"I scarcely know how to act," said Cashel. "It looks unfeeling and
unkind that we should give ourselves up to gayety at such a moment."

"Mr. Linton's counsel may be wise, notwithstanding," said Tiernay. "His
Lordship may continue a long time in his present state."

"Exactl