"Not the sign of a word passed my lips about it." "You're sure?" "Sartin." "Take care, then, that you never open your mouth to mortal about it, or you'll be hanged, as sure as your name is Andy Rooney." "Oh, at that rate I never will. But maybe your honour thinks I ought to be hanged?" "No,--because you did not intend to do a wrong thing; but, only I have pity on you, I could hang you to-morrow for what you've done." "Thank you, sir." "I've burnt the letters, so no one can know anything about the business unless you tell on yourself: so remember,--not a word." "Faith. I'll be as dumb as the dumb baste." "Go, now; and, once for all, remember you'll be hanged so sure as you ever mention one word about this affair." Andy made a bow and a scrape, and left the squire, who hoped the secret was safe. He then took a ruminating walk round the pleasure-grounds, revolving plans of retaliation upon his false friend O'Grady; and having determined to put the most severe and sudden measure of the law in force against him for the monies in which he was indebted to him, he only awaited the arrival of Murtough Murphy from Dublin to execute his vengeance. Having settled this in his own mind, he became more contented, and said, with a self-satisfied nod of the head, "We'll see who's the _bladdher_." In a few days Murtough Murphy returned from Dublin, and to Merryvale he immediately proceeded. The squire opened to him directly his intention of commencing hostile law proceedings against O'Grady, and asked what most summary measures could be put in practice against him. "Oh! various, various, my dear squire," said Murphy; "but I don't see any great use in doing so _yet_,--he has not openly avowed himself." "But does he not intend to coalesce with the other party?" "I believe so;--that is, if he's to get the pension." "Well, and that's as good as done, you know; for if they want him, the pension is easily managed." "I'm not so sure of that." "Why, they're as plenty as blackberries." "Very true; but, you see, Lord Gobblestown swallows all the pensions for his own family; and there are a great many complaints in the market against him for plucking that blackberry-bush very bare indeed; and unless Sack Scatterbrain has swingeing interest, the pension may not be such an easy thing." "But still O'Grady has shown himself not my friend." "My dear squire, don't be so hot: he has not _shown_ himself yet----" "Well, but he means it." "My dear squire, you oughtn't to jump a conclusion like a twelve-foot drain or a five-bar gate." "Well, he's a blackguard." "No denying it; and therefore keep him on your side, if you can, or he'll be a troublesome customer on the other." "I'll keep no terms with him;--I'll slap at him directly. What can you do that's wickedest?--latitat, capias--fee-faw-fum, or whatever you call it?" "Hollo! squire, you're overrunning your game: maybe, after all, he _won't_ join the Scatterbrains, and----"