Balfour opened the paper and began to read, but soon burst forth with--“How like him--how like him!--'Less oppressed, indeed, by years than sustained by the conscious sense of long services to the State.' I think I hear him declaiming it. “This is not bad: 'While at times afflicted by the thought, that to the great principles of the law, of which I had made this Court the temple and the sanctuary, there will now succeed the vague decisions and imperfect judgments of less learned expositors of justice, I am comforted by remembering that I leave behind me some records worthy of memory,--traditions that will not easily die.'” “That's the modest note; hear him when he sounds the indignant chord,” said Sewell. “Ay, here we have it: 'If I have delayed, my Lord, in tendering to you this my resignation, it is that I have waited till, the scurrilous tongues of slander silenced, and the smaller, but not less malevolent, whisperings of jealousy subdued, I might descend from the Bench amidst the affectionate regrets of those who regard me as the last survivor of that race which made Ireland a nation.' The liquor is genuine,” cried Balfour, laughing. “There's no disputing it, you have won your money.” “I should think so,” was Sewell's cool reply. “He has the same knack in that sort of thing that the girl in the well-known shop in Seville has in twisting a cigarette.” Balfour took out his keys to open his writing-desk, and, pondering for a moment or two, at last said, “I wish any man would tell me why I am going to give you this money,--do you know, Sewell?” “Because you promised it, I suppose.” “Yes; but why should I have promised it? What can it possibly signify to me which of our lawyers presides in Her Majesty's Irish Exchequer? I 'm sure you 'd not give ten pounds to insure this man or that, in or out of the Cabinet.” “Not ten shillings. They 're all dark horses to me, and if you offered me the choice of the lot, I 'd not know which to take; but I always heard that you political fellows cared so much for your party, and took your successes and failures so much to heart, that there was no sacrifice you were not ready to make to insure your winning.” “We now and then do run a dead-heat, and one would really give something to come in first; but what's that?--I declare there 's a carriage driving off--some one has gone. I 'll have to swear that some alarming news has come from the South. Good-night--I must be off.” “Don't forget the cash before you go.” “Oh, to be sure, here you are--crisp and clean, ain't they? I got them this morning, and certainly never intended to part with them on such an errand.” Sewell folded up the notes with a grim smile, and said, “I only wish I had a few more big-wigs to dispose of,--you should have them cheap; as Stag and Mantle say, 'articles no longer in great vogue.'” “There's another departure!” cried Balfour. “I shall be in great disgrace!” and hurried away without a “goodbye.”