The noise of footsteps and voices without at this moment interrupted the speaker, the door suddenly opened, and Bagenal Daly entered. He was splashed from head to foot, his high riding-boots stained with the saddle and the road, and his appearance vouching for a long and wearisome journey. “Good morrow, Darcy,” said he, grasping the Knight's hand with the grip of his iron fingers.--“Your servant, sir; I scarcely expected to see you here _so soon_.” The emphasis with which he spoke the last words brought the color to O'Reilly's cheek, who seemed very miserable at the interruption. “You came to take possession,” continued Daly, fixing his eyes on him with a steadfast stare. “You mistake, Bagenal,” said the Knight, gently; “Mr. O'Reilly is come with a very different object,--one which I trust he will deem it no breach of confidence or propriety in me if I mention it to you.” “I regret to say, sir,” said O'Reilly, hastily, “that I cannot give my permission in this instance. Whatever the fate of the proposal I have made to you, I beg it to be understood as made under the seal of honorable secrecy.” Darcy bowed deeply, but made no reply. “Confound me,” cried Daly, “if I understand any compact between two such men as you to require all this privacy, unless you were hardy enough to renew your old father's proposal for my friend's daughter, and now had modesty enough to feel ashamed of your own impudence.” “I am no stranger, sir, to the indecent liberties you permit your tongue to take,” said Hickman, moving towards the door; “but this is neither the time nor place to notice them.” “So then I was right,” cried Daly; “I guessed well the game you would play--” “Bagenal,” interposed the Knight, “I must atop this. Mr. Hickman is now beneath my roof--” “Is he, faith?--not in his own estimation then. Why, his fellows are taking an inventory of the furniture at this very moment.” “Is this true, sir?” said Darcy, turning a fierce look towards O'Reilly, whose face became suddenly of an ashy paleness. “If so,” muttered he, “I can only assure you that it is without any orders of mine.” “How good!” said Daly, bursting into an insolent laugh; “why, Darcy, when you meet with a fellow in your plantations with a gun in his hand and a lurcher at his heels, are you disposed to regard him as one in search of the picturesque, or a poacher? So, when a gentleman travels about the country with a sub-sheriff in his carriage and two bailiffs in the rumble, does it seem exactly the guise of one paying morning calls to his neighbors?” “Mr. O'Reilly, I ask you to explain this proceeding.” “I confess, sir,” stammered out the other, “I came accompanied by certain persons in authority, but who have acted in this matter entirely without my permission. The proposal I have made this day was the cause of my visit.”