The small den in which he performed his functions occupied the corner of the street, giving a view in two directions, so that Hosey, while cutting and curling, never was obliged to lose sight of that world without, in whose doings he felt so strong an interest. In the one easy-chair of this sanctum was Magennis now disposed, waiting for Mr. Lynch, who had just stepped down to “the pound,” to liberate the priest's pig. Nor had he long to wait, for Hosey soon made his appearance, and slipping on a very greasy-looking jean-jacket, proceeded to serve him. “The top of the morning to you, Captain,”--he always styled him by the title,--“it's a rare pleasure to see you so early in town; but it will be a bad market to-day--cut and curled, Captain?” [Illustration: 232] “No; shaved!” said Magennis, bluntly. “And shaved you shall be, Captain,--and beautifully shaved, too, for I have got an excellent case from Lamprey's; they came yesterday,--came with the writ against Jones Creegan.” “At whose suit?” “Mrs. Miles Creegan, the other brother's widow,” said Hosey, lathering away and talking with breathless rapidity. “There was a clause in old Sam's will, that if ever Tom, the chap that died at Demerara--you'd like more off the whiskers, it's more military. It was only yesterday Major Froode remarked to me what a soldierlike-looking man was Captain Magennis.” “Is he in command of the detachment?” “He is in his Majesty's--1st Foot--the 'Buccaneers,' they used to be called; I suppose you never heard why?” “No, nor don't want to hear. What kind of a man is the Major?” “He 's a smart, well-made man, with rather a haughty look,” said Hosey, drawing himself up, and seeming to imply that there was a kind of resemblance between them. “Is he English or Irish?” “Scotch, Captain,--Scotch; and never gives more than fivepence for a cut and curl, pomatum included.--No letters, Mrs. Cronin,” cried he, raising up the movable shutter of the little window; then bending down his ear he listened to some whispered communication from that lady, after which he shut the panel, and resumed his functions. “She 's at law with O'Reilly about the party wall. There's the Major now going down to the barracks, and I wonder who's the other along with him;” and Hosey rushed to the door to find some clew to the stranger. In less than a quarter of a minute he was back again, asking pardon for absence, and informing Magennis “that the man in plain clothes was a Dublin counsellor, that arrived the night before. I think I can guess what he's here for.” “What is it?” cried Magennis, eagerly. “There's an election coming on, and the Martins expect a contest.--Nothing for you, Peter,” said he, to an applicant for a letter outside. “He's looking to be made barony constable these four years, and he 's as much chance as I have of being--what shall I say?--” “Are you done?” asked Magennis, impatiently.