“And this is Galway!” exclaimed Massingbred,--“this glorious land of chivalrous sentiment of which we poor Englishmen have been hearing to satiety! The Paradise of Point of Honor, then, turns out a very commonplace locality, after all!” “I 'm proud to say that our county has another reputation than its old one; not but--” and he added the words in some temper--“there are a few left would like to teach you that its character was not acquired for nothing.” “Well, well!” sighed Jack, as he closed his eyes, and appeared as if indulging in a revery, “of all the mockeries I have lived to see unmasked, this is the worst and meanest.” “I have not come here to listen to this, sir,” said Nelli-gan, haughtily, as he arose. “I waited upon you, intending to accept your solemn pledge, by word of honor, to commit no act hostile to the public peace. Now, sir, I shall call upon you to give me the legal guarantee for this security,--good and sufficient bail, and that within an hour!” “My dear Mr. Nelligan,” replied Massingbred, with all the quiet ease of an unruffled temper, “I have not a single friend here, except yourself, upon whom I could call in such an emergency. I am utterly unknown in these parts; my very name unheard of before my arrival. If I _did_ by any unhappy circumstance find myself in such an involvement as you speak of, I solemnly assure you my first thought would be to address myself to Mr. Nelligan.” The easy impertinence of this speech would have been perfectly successful a short time previous, when Nelligan yet believed in the close friendship with his son. It came now, however, too late, and the old man listened to it with something bordering on anger. “Good and sufficient bail, sir,--yourself and two others,” repeated he, slowly, and moving towards the door. “One word, I pray,” said Jack, rising, and speaking with more earnestness and apparently with more sincerity. “I do not ask you any details as to the circumstances you impute to me, but perhaps you would, as a favor, tell me how this information has reached you?” “I will not, sir,” was the abrupt reply. “I am sure no friend of mine could have--” “It is no use, Mr. Massingbred; all your address will avail you nothing. You shall not cross-examine _me!_” “You must, however, see, sir,” said Massingbred, “that unknown and unfriended as I am here, bail is out of the question.” “The Bench will hear anything you desire to say on that subject,” said Nelligan, coldly. “Good-morning to you.” And with these words he left the room, and descended into the street.