f my life, for her mere presence stimulates me to such effort in
conversation that I feel in the very lassitude afterwards what a strain my
faculties have undergone."'

'What an insufferable coxcomb, and an idiot to boot!' cried Walpole.
'I could not do him a more spiteful turn than to tell my cousin of her
conquest. There is another page, I see, of the same sort. But here you
are--this is all about you: I'll read it. "In _re_ Kearney. The Irish are
always logical; and as Miss Kearney once shot some of her countrymen, when
on a mission they deemed National, her brother opines that he ought to
represent the principles thus involved in Parliament."'

'Is this the way in which he states my claims!' broke in Dick, with
ill-suppressed passion.

'Bear in mind, Mr. Kearney, this jest, and a very poor one it is, was meant
for me alone. The communication is essentially private, and it is only
through my indiscretion you know anything of it whatever.'

'I am not aware that any confidence should entitle him to write such an
impertinence.'

'In that case, I shall read no more,' said Walpole, as he slowly refolded
the letter.' The fault is all on my side, Mr. Kearney,' he continued;' but
I own I thought you knew your friend so thoroughly that extravagance on his
part could have neither astonished nor provoked you.'

'You are perfectly right, Mr. Walpole; I apologise for my impatience. It
was, perhaps, in hearing his words read aloud by another that I forgot
myself, and if you will kindly continue the reading, I will promise to
behave more suitably in future.'

Walpole reopened the letter, but, whether indisposed to trust the pledge
thus given, or to prolong the interview, ran his eyes over one side and
then turned to the last page. 'I see,' said he, 'he augurs ill as to your
chances of success; he opines that you have not well calculated the great
cost of the venture, and that in all probability it has been suggested by
some friend of questionable discretion. "At all events,"' and here he read
aloud--'"at all events, his Excellency says, 'We should like to mark the
Kilgobbin affair by some show of approbation; and though supporting young
K. in a contest for his county is a "higher figure" than we meant to pay,
see him, and hear what he has to say of his prospects--what he can do to
obtain a seat, and what he will do if he gets one. We need not caution
him against'"--'hum, hum, hum,' muttered he, slurring over the words, and
e