Officer." What!-a hundred pound!-how did Nick rob you of that same?"

Farmer.-" I gave him the notes last night to keep safe for me; an' when I axed him for them this morning, by the powers! if he didn't deny clane that ever I giv'd them to him-the false murderer that he is."

Farmer." Is it a witness that ye mane, masthur? Sure, the divil a witness in life was there but myself and Rooney. I'd no notion the bloodthirsty spalpeen would have thricked me out of the notes, and so I gived them to him privately, to prevint myself from being robbed by the Dublin thieves."

Officer." By the holy St. Proker! there isn't a bigger thief in all Ireland than Rooney, and ye may take your affidavit of that same: -But I'm sorry ye haven't got no witness, because, d'ye see, ye'll not be able to prove that ye gave the villain the money to keep."

Farmer." By the holy vargin! I'll take my oath of it."

Officer." True, for you, my good friendbut that isn't enough to convict the robber.-I'm afraid ye'll not be able to recover your money."

7?

Farmer." Ochone! and is it that you say? -What will I do ?—what will I do ?"

Officer." By the holy powers! a thought is just come across me :-Counsellor Curran is the boy for your money; if there's a man in Dublin can do't, the counsellor is the man. Be aisy with yourself now, and step across to Bill Murphy's, at the Haymow and Pitch-fork. I'll come to ye when the Court rises, and I'll take ye to the counsellor without any more delay. He's as cunning as Old Nick, or even the Divil himself; and, I'll bet ye the worth of the notes, but he'll get them back for ye."

Farmer." Long life to ye, masthur!—I'll do that same; and it's not for to spake of the reward I'll give ye."

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Officer.- "Don't spake of no reward, my good friend, I'm happy to serve ye; and I'll be still more so, to see that thief Rooney burnt alive for his robberies. He once refused to trust me

a noggin o' whiskey when I was out o' place; and many's the gallon I drank, and paid for on the nail, at his house, before that same; but, by jakers! I'll be revenged now, any how-the brute beast that he is! So now, step over to Murphy's, comfort yourself with a drop of the cratur, and smoke your doodeen, and I'll be with ye in no time."

"Jasus be wid you," replied the countryman, cheering up as he took his departure for the tavern to which he was directed. He had not sat there above an hour when he was joined by the friendly door-keeper, who, after tossing off a noggin of potyeen, accompanied him to Curran's house, in Ely Place.

Mr. Curran heard the man's story, and saw instantly through the whole affair. He knew Rooney, by report, to be a sly, artful scoundrel; and that success in recovering the money would depend on the utmost nicety of management. He resolved, therefore, to give his instructions to the countryman by piece-meal, afraid to trust him with too much at one time, in case of bungling; and being well aware of the confusion of

ideas which any matter of importance invariably produces in the muddy brain of an uneducated Irishman.

Having settled his tactics, he said—“ You say, my friend, that this Rooney denies the receipt of the bank notes?"

Farmer." I do, yer wurchip; and he's a false, black-hearted thraitor for that same."

You have no witness?" continued Curran. Farmer." None, my lord-the more's the pity."

Curran." Are you willing, then, to be guided entirely by my advice?”

Farmer.- "Yer honour may swear that entirely."

Curran.-"You will take no step but as I direct

you?"

Farmer." I'll trust myself and the entire thing to the direction of yer wurship's reverence; and I'll not do nor say nothing but what yer honour will tell me is right."

Curran." Very well. Now, do you think it possible, by going back to What part of

the country do you come from?"

Farmer." My native plaice, when I'm at home, my lord, is Callagher, in the county of Tipperary."

Curran. Very well; do you think it possible by going there, that you could raise, borrow, beg, or steal another hundred pounds, and be back here in a few days?"

Farmer." O, murdher!-if it's a hundred pounds of potatees ye mane, I could do it aisily; but as to money, I've a notion its entire unpossible."

Curran." But cannot your relatives assist you? You will require it only for a few days; and I give you my word that you shall take it back to Tipperary; as I hope you shall the hundred pounds that you have lost."'

Farmer." Sure I've got an ould uncle, my mother's own brother, that's worth oceans o' money, and its worth trying for, yer honour."

Curran." Certainly go then, without delay : say to your uncle that one hundred pounds, for a few days, will make your fortune; and see that you do not mention your loss to a living soul; but come to me the instant you return. I'l