“Do not judge my heart by your own, sir,” said Lord Colambre, coolly;
“no two things in nature can, I trust, be more different. My purpose
in travelling _incognito_ has been fully answered: I was determined to
see and judge how my father’s estates were managed; and I have seen,
compared, and judged. I have seen the difference between the Clonbrony
and the Colambre property; and I shall represent what I have seen to
my father.”
“As to that, my lord, if we are to come to that--but I trust your
lordship will suffer me to explain these matters. Go about your
business, my good friends; you have all you want; and, my lord, after
dinner, when you are cool, I hope I shall be able to make you sensible
that things have been represented to your lordship in a mistaken
light; and, I flatter myself, I shall convince you, I have not only
always acted the part of a friend to the family, but am particularly
willing to conciliate your lordship’s good-will,” said he, sweeping
the rouleaus of gold into a bag; “any accommodation in my power, at
any time.”
“I want no accommodation, sir--were I starving, I would accept of none
from you. Never can you conciliate my good-will; for you can never
deserve it.”
“If that be the case, my lord, I must conduct myself accordingly: but
it’s fair to warn you, before you make any representation to my Lord
Clonbrony, that, if he should think of changing his agent, there are
accounts to be settled between us--that may be a consideration.”
“No, sir; no consideration--my father never shall be the slave of such
a paltry consideration.”
“Oh, very well, my lord; you know best. If you choose to make an
assumpsit, I’m sure I shall not object to the security. Your lordship
will be of age soon, I know--I’m sure I’m satisfied--but,” added he,
with a malicious smile, “I rather apprehend you don’t know what you
undertake: I only premise that the balance of accounts between us is
not what can properly be called a paltry consideration.”
“On that point, perhaps, sir, you and I may differ.”
“Very well, my lord, you will follow your own principles, if it suits
your convenience.”
“Whether it does or not, sir, I shall abide by my principles.”
“Dennis! the letters to the post--When do you go to England, my lord?”
“Immediately, sir,” said Lord Colambre: his lordship saw new leases
from his father to Mr. Dennis Garraghty, lying on the table, unsigned.
“Immediately!” repeated Messrs. Nicholas and Dennis, with an air of
dismay. Nicholas got up, looked out of the window, and whispered
something to his brother, who instantly left the room.
Lord Colambre saw the postchaise at the door, which had brought Mrs.
Raffarty to the castle, and Larry standing beside it: his lordship
instantly threw up the sash, and holding between his finger and thumb
a six shilling piece, cried, “Larry, my friend, let me have the
horses.”
“You shall have ‘em--your honour,” said Larry.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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