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 money 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 spoon." 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 order 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 am 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 at a conclusion as you would at 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?" "Halloo! squire, your overrunning your game: may be after all, he _won't_ join the Scatterbrains, and----" "I tell you it's no matter; he intended doing it, and that's all the same. I'll slap at him--I'll blister him!" Murtough Murphy wondered at this blind fury of the squire, who, being a good-humoured and good-natured fellow in general, puzzled the attorney the more by his present manifest malignity against O'Grady. But _he_ had not seen the turn-over of the letter: he had not seen "spoon,"--the real and secret cause of the "war-to-the-knife" spirit which was kindled in the squire's breast. "Of course, you can do what you please; but, if you'd take a friend's advice----" "I tell you I'll blister him." "He certainly _bled_ you very freely."