By one of those adroit turns your social magician is master of, the Viceroy had drawn the conversation towards Nelligan's county and his native town. “I was to have paid a visit to poor Martin there,” said he, “and I certainly should have looked in upon _you_.” Nelligan's cheek was in a flame; pride and shame were both there, warring for the mastery. “Poor fellow!” said his Excellency, who saw the necessity of a diversion, “I fear that he has left that immense estate greatly embarrassed. Some one mentioned to me, the other day, that the heir will not succeed to even a fourth of the old property.” “I have heard even worse, my Lord,” said Nelligan. “There is a rumor that he is left without a shilling.” “How very shocking! They are connections of my own!” said the Viceroy; as though what he said made the misery attain its climax. “I am aware, my Lord, that Lady Dorothea is related to your Excellency, and I am surprised you have not heard the stories I allude to.” “But perhaps I am incorrect,” said the Marquis. “It may be that I _have_ heard them; so many things pass through one's ears every day. But here is Colonel Mas-singbred; he 's sure to know it. Massingbred, we want some news of the Martins--the Martins of--what is it called?” “Cro' Martin, my Lord,” said Nelligan, reddening. “I hold the very latest news of that county in my hand, my Lord,” replied the Secretary. “It is an express from my son, who writes from Oughterard.” Nelligan stood, scarcely breathing, with impatience to hear the tidings. Colonel Massingbred ran his eyes over the first page of the letter, murmuring to himself the words; then turning over, he said: “Yes, here it is,--'While I write this, the whole town is in a state of intense excitement; the magistrates have sent in for an increased force of police, and even soldiery, to repress some very serious disturbances on the Martin property. It would appear that Merl--the man who assumes to claim the property, as having purchased the reversion from young Martin--was set upon by a large mob, and pursued, himself and his friends, for several miles across the country. They escaped with their lives, but have arrived here in a lamentable plight. There is really no understanding these people. It was but the other day, and there was no surer road to their favor than to abuse and vilify these same Martins, and now they are quite ready to murder any one who aspires to take their place. If one was to credit the stories afloat, they have already wreaked a fatal vengeance on some fellows employed by Merl to serve notices on the tenantry; but I believe that the outrages have really gone no further than such maltreatment as Irishmen like to give, and are accustomed to take.'” Here his Excellency laughed heartily, and Joe Nelligan looked grave.