“Stop, stop; don’t tell me any particulars. Only let the thing come off like a business transaction,--you understand me?” “Perfectly responded Mr. Brown. “And you undertake it?” “I do,”--and in that understanding pocket this retainer and Mr. Brown put the bank note into his breast-pocket. “Come, as matters are arranged, let us have another bottle.” “No, no, no,--I must return to the person waiting your reply.--He will be impatient.” “Who are the parties, Sloman?--honour bright.” “By heaven! I know no more of them than you do; nor, stranger still, does the agent who proposed the affair to me. Best assured the thing is ably planned, and there are deep ones at the bottom of it.” “Ay, and I promise you that it shall be as ably executed,” responded Mr. Brown. “To a gentleman of your experience,” said Mr. Sloman, with a bow, “it would be impertinent to offer advice. The fewer number of people employed in the job, (remember, I know nothing of it,) why the less chance there is of splitting.” “Mr. Brown assented by a nod. “To an honest tradesman, like yourself, or a lawyer of character, like me, any thing to compromise us would be detrimental.” A parting glass was drunk,--and the payment, its mode and certainty, all being carefully arranged, the excellent gentlemen separated with a warm shake of the hand, protestations of mutual esteem, and a God bless you! Mr. Sloman was emancipated by the churchyard door; the hunchback locked the grating; and Mr. Brown, having interdicted all visitors for the night, excepting the favoured few who had the private _entree_ of his domicile, sate down “alone in his glory.” The step of the hunchback was heard no more, as he had dived into the lower regions which he inhabited. Mr. Brown looked suspiciously about him for a moment, and satisfied that he was in perfect loneliness and security, he burst into a passionate soliloquy, and strange, the language it was uttered in was in Irish!