ments: filled with a desire of ascertaining whether such was the fact, and resolved to profit by this opportunity, I replied in a tone, the haughtiness of which indicated but little respect for the assumed authority of my visitor-" However that may be, sir, this appears to me, not a very fit place for conversation with a stranger. May I beg you will do me the honour to walk up to my apartments." Upon reaching my room, I motioned him to a chair, and throwing myself on the sofa with great apparent carelessness—although in reality, I kept my eye firmly fixed on his countenance, so as to endeavour to read his secret thoughts-I requested him to inform me of the object of his rather unseasonable visit. He was a man apparently about sixty, his face strongly indented with the lines usually marked by violent passions; his hair, which was perfectly white, contrasting not unpleasantly with a quick, small, piercing black eye, gave him a claim to the respect of age; whilst at the same time, the whole of his person exhibited the active vigour of manhood. Altogether, there were the unmistakable marks of gentleman about his general appearance; characterised moreover by an air of energy and decision,

indicated by the quick glance of the eye, and a peculiar expression about the lower part of the face. I could not, in fact, help thinking that he was altogether a very unlikely person to have played the spy upon me; but though inclined to acquit him, still the homely proverb, of deceptive appearance, recurring to my mind, I resolved to judge for myself. Without at once replying to my question, he looked carefully around the room as if to ascertain whether any other were there, then drawing his chair close to my side, and looking me full in the face, in a low, but earnest tone of voice, he thus addressed me.

"I do not wonder, Mr. Tarleton, at your regarding the unceremonious visit of a perfect stranger with impatience and suspicion, but, believe me, I am not the man to obtrude myself upon another's privacy without both necessity and a proper cause; let me then beg of you, at once to disarm yourself of doubts, natural enough under the circumstances, but which can only impede the object of my visit, and frustrate the good intentions that dictated it. In the first place, let me explain my knowledge of your name and person: you are the companion, the

intimate associate, nay perhaps, though not common, the confidential friend of one in whom I take the deepest and most lively interest; you, perhaps, know whom I mean."

Gerald McCullagh, I was about to say, but stopping myself short, half-way, he perceived my intention and subsequent change, and completing the words for me, added, "Yes, that is the per

I do not, however, think the worse of you," he said, rather pettishly, "for being upon your guard with a stranger; but by-and-by that will vanish. Well then, to proceed-it is in consequence of that deep and lively interest in Gerald that I have called upon you. So much for the proper cause of my visit: the necessity for its unseasonable hour," he added in an altered voice, "you shall learn hereafter; unless, indeed, that necessity shall, with the change of circumstances, cease." Here he paused, and his thoughts seemed to wander from the present scene; recovering himself quickly, he, however, added, "and now Mr. Tarleton, I hope we may treat as friends.”

A good deal surprised by the whole affair, but much prepossessed by the frank manner of the

stranger, I felt inclined to be cordial with him; but checking myself, I merely replied, that I was convinced of his perfect honour and fairness, and added, “I feel proud to say, Mr. M'Cullagh is my most intimate friend; but give me leave to add, that if the object of your calling upon me in this secret way, be to obtain any sort of information concerning him, without meaning anything offensive, I must at once decline any further conversation

on the subject."

"I must say, Mr. Tarleton, you are a little over cautious; I have not, I believe, as yet asked you one single question about Gerald."

"No, sir, you have not, but I cannot help construing the observations you began with, into a very probable prelude to some desire of obtaining information about him; so it appeared to me the better course at once to set you right on the point." "Thank you very much," he retorted sharply; "but I have not come to seek any information."

"Nor do I mean," said I, "to talk over my friend's affairs with a person whose very name I do not know, however much he may profess himself interested in that friend's welfare."

This, I thought, would be no bad way of quietly letting the gentleman see that we were rather on unequal terms, and that I was at a disadvantage; however, either he did not understand my hint, or would not take it, for, wholly passing by this excellent opportunity of introducing himself with all proper formality, he said, "Well, I must not let my temper interfere with the object I had in coming to you, and on the whole, I do not, Mr. Tarleton, the less respect you for your caution, however offensive it may appear to myself; but pray, my young friend, do not you either be over quick to suspect bad intentions in an honourable Gerald M'Cullagh is an orphan, but not quite without friends; possibly you may have heard so much from him?"

man.

"I have heard him say, that he had been told his mother's brother was alive and abroad, though he doubted it himself, never having heard from him."

"Never heard from him!" he exclaimed, "and yet it is so: he has not indeed heard, but then he has not been forgotten. Mr. Tarleton, you and Gerald are about to leave London very shortly for the prosecution of your profession in Ireland, what