ity due to an old
acquaintance; the landlord himself appearing to do the honours of the
house, and welcome a valued guest.

"We must get our host, Billy Crossley, to sup with us, Mark. No one can
tell us so much of how matters are doing here, for, however it happens,
Billy knows all the gossip of the day, fashionable, political, or
sporting, he keeps himself up to what is going forward everywhere."
And so saying, Talbot at once hastened after the landlord to secure his
company for the evening.

Billy was somewhat fastidious about bestowing his agreeability in
general, but on the present occasion, he acceded at once, and in less
than half-an-hour, the three were seated at a meal, which would not have
disgraced an hotel of more pretensious exterior. Mr. Crossley doing the
honours of the table, like a host entertaining his friends.

"I scarcely had expected to see you so soon, Mr. Talbot," said he, when
the servants had left the room, and the party drew round the fire. "They
told me you would pass the winter in the country."

"So I had intended, Billy, but as good luck would have it, I made
an acquaintance in the south, which changed my plans, my friend, Mr.
O'Donoghue here, and as he had never seen the capital, and knew nothing
of your gay doings, I thought I'd just take a run back, and show him at
least, the map of the land."

"My service to you, sir," said Billy, bowing to Mark; "it would be hard
to have got a better guide than you have in Master Harry. I can assure
you, so far as wickedness goes, he's a match for any thing here--from
the Royal Barracks to Trinity College."

"Flattery, gross flattery, Bill. I was your own pupil, and you can't
help partiality."

"You are a most favourable specimen of private tuition, there's no doubt
of it," said Crossley, laughing, "and I have reason to be proud of you.
Did Mr. O'Donoghue ever hear of your clearing out Hancey Hennessy at
hazard--the fellow that carried the loaded dice?"

"Have done, Bill. None of these absurd stories now."

"Nor what a trick you played Corny Mehan at the spring meeting with the
roan cob that knew how to limp when you wanted him?--as great a devil as
himself, Mr. O'Donoghue. You'd swear the beast had a bad blood spavin
if you saw him move, and he all the time a three-quarter bred horse,
without a stain or a blemish about him."

Talbot seemed for a second or two somewhat uneasy at these familiar
reminiscences of his friend Crossley, not knowin