“'No, sir, she was bought this morning by Mr. Dempsey, of Tear Fox Lodge.' “'The devil she is,' said M'Claverty; and he jumped on his horse, and he cantered over to the Lodge. “'Mr. Dempsey at home?' says he. “'Yes, sir.' “'Give him this card, and say, I beg the favor of seeing him for a few moments.' “The man went off, and came back in a few minutes, with the answer, 'Mr. Dempsey is very sorry, but he 's engaged.' “'Oh, oh! that's it!' says M'Claverty to himself; 'I see how the wind blows. I say, my man, tell him I 've a message from his Grace the Lord-Lieutenant.' “Well, the answer came for the captain to send the message in, for my grandfather could n't come out. “'Say, it's impossible,' said M'Claverty; 'it's for his own private ear.' “Dodd and Dempsey was strong in my grandfather that day: he would listen to no terms. “'No,' says he, 'if the goods are worth anything, they never come without an invoice. I 'll have nothing to say to him.' “But the captain wasn't to be balked; for, in spite of everything, he passed the servant, and came at once into the room where my grandfather was sitting,--ay, and before he could help it, was shaking him by both hands as if he was his brother. “'Why the devil didn't you let me in?' said he; 'I came from the Duke with a message for you.' “'Bother!' says my grandfather. “'I did, though,' says he; 'he's got a heavy book on your little mare, and he wants you to make your boy ride a waiting race, and not win the first beat,--you understand?' “'I do,' says my grandfather, 'perfectly; and he's got a deal of money on her, has he?' “'He has,' said the captain; 'and every one at the Castle, too, high and low, from the chief secretary down to the second coachman,--we are all backing her.' “'I am glad of it,--I am sincerely glad of it,' said my grandfather, rubbing his hands. “'I knew you would be, old boy!' cried the captain, joyfully. “'Ah, but you don't know why; you 'd never guess.' “M'Claverty stared at him, but said nothing. “'Well, I'll tell you,' resumed my grandfather; 'the reason is this: I 'll not let her run,--no, divil a step! I 'll bring her up to the ground, and you may look at her, and see that she 's all sound and safe, in top condition, and with a skin like a looking-glass, and then I 'll walk her back again! And do you know why I 'll do this?' said he, while his eyes flashed fire, and his lip trembled; 'just because I won't suffer the house of Dodd and Dempsey to be humbugged as if we were greengrocers! Two years ago, it was to “eat an oyster with me;” last year it was a “day with my hounds;” maybe now his Grace would join the race dinner; but that's all past and gone,--I 'll stand it no longer.' “'Confound it, man,' said the captain, 'the Duke must have forgotten it. You never reminded him of his engagement. He 'd have been delighted to have come to you if he only recollected.'