roundless uneasiness
to my mother. I know, therefore, that you will not unnecessarily mention
its existence to her.'

I gave him the desired assurance, and added:

'May I ask you. O'Connor, if, indeed, it be a fair question, whether
this Fitzgerald at any time attempted to engage you in anything like
gaming?'

This question was suggested by my having frequently heard Fitzgerald
mentioned as a noted gambler, and sometimes even as a blackleg. O'Connor
seemed, I thought, slightly embarrassed. He answered:

'No, no--I cannot say that he ever attempted anything of the kind. I
certainly have played with him, but never lost to any serious amount;
nor can I recollect that he ever solicited me--indeed he knows that I
have a strong objection to deep play. YOU must be aware that my finances
could not bear much pruning down. I never lost more to him at a sitting
than about five pounds, which you know is nothing. No, you wrong him if
you imagine that he attached himself to me merely for the sake of such
contemptible winnings as those which a broken-down Irish gentleman could
afford him. Come, Purcell, you are too hard upon him--you judge only by
report; you must see him, and decide for yourself.--Suppose we call upon
him now; he is at the inn, in the High Street, not a mile off.'

I declined the proposal drily.

'Your caution is too easily alarmed,' said he. 'I do not wish you to
make this man your bosom friend: I merely desire that you should see and
speak to him, and if you form any acquaintance with him, it must be of
that slight nature which can be dropped or continued at pleasure.'

From the time that O'Connor had announced the fact that his friend
was no other than the notorious Fitzgerald, a foreboding of something
calamitous had come upon me, and it now occurred to me that if any
unpleasantness were to be feared as likely to result to O'Connor
from their connection, I might find my attempts to extricate him much
facilitated by my being acquainted, however slightly, with Fitzgerald. I
know not whether the idea was reasonable--it was certainly natural; and
I told O'Connor that upon second thoughts I would ride down with him to
the town, and wait upon Mr. Fitzgerald.

We found him at home; and chatted with him for a considerable time. To
my surprise his manners were perfectly those of a gentleman, and his
conversation, if not peculiarly engaging, was certainly amusing. The
politeness of his demeanour, and the easy flue