I gave her to the landlord of the little inn in the square,
in lieu of my score."

"See now, what liars there's in the world!" said Lanty, holding up his
hands in pious horror. "Ould Finn of the Head Inn tould me she ate
a feed of oats at the door, and started again for Askeaton, with a
gentleman just like your honor, the night after I sold her. He knew the
mare well; and by the same token he said she was galled on the shoulder
with holsters that was fixed to the saddle. Now, think of that, and he
after buying her! Is it early in the morning I'm to come to your honor?"
said he, moving towards the door.

"Yes--that is--no, Lanty, no--about twelve o'clock. I'm a late riser.
Wait a moment, Lanty; I have something more to say to you, if I could
only remember it." He passed his hand across his brow as he spoke, and
looked like one labouring to recall some lost thought. "No matter," said
he, after a pause of some minutes; "I shall perhaps recollect it before
to-morrow."

"Good night to you, then, sir," said Lanty, with a most obsequious bow,
as he opened the door.

Their eyes met: it was only for a moment; but with such intelligence did
each glance read the other, that they both smiled significantly. Talbot
moved quickly forward at the instant, and closing the door with one
hand, he laid the other gently on Lanty's shoulder.

"Come, Lanty," said he, jocularly, "I can afford to sport ten pounds for
a whim. Tell me who it was sent you after me this evening, and I'll give
you the money."

"Done, then!" cried Lanty, grasping his hand; "And you'll ask no more
than his name?"

"Nothing more. I pledge my word; and here's the money."

"Captain Hemsworth, the agent to the rich Englishman in Glen-flesk."

"I don't think I ever saw him in my life--I'm certain I don't know him.
Is he a tall, dark man?"

"I'll tell you no more," said Lanty. "The devil a luck I ever knew come
of speaking of him."

"All fair, Lanty--a bargain's a bargain; and so, good-night." And with a
shake-hands of affected cordiality, they parted.

"Your conference has been a long one," said Mark, who waited with
impatience, until the silence without permitted him to come forth.

"Not so long as I could have wished it," was Talbot's reply, as he stood
in deep thought over what had passed. "It is just as I feared, Mark;
there is danger brewing for me in some quarter, but how, and in
what shape, I cannot even guess. This same horsedealer, this Lanty
Lawle