The Black Baronet; or, The Chronicles Of Ballytrain

us Conduc

an hour in town, entered the coffee-room of the "Mitre

ronet-"They tell me he is a very mysterious gentleman, and that

Crackenfudge," he added, speaking to a person who passed upstairs-"There he goes," proceeded Jack

felt himself surrounded on all hands. The strange guest in the Mitre inn, was then, beyond question, the very individual alluded to in the anonymous letter. The baronet's face had, in the scowl of wrath, got black, as mine host was speaking. This expression, however, gradually diminished in the darkness of that wrathful shadow which lay over it. After a severe internal

turned his sharp, piercing eyes upon him, and, at a singl

is no use in denyin' it, now

homas Gourlay's compliments-and I sho

already described them-"Sir," said he, addressing the forme

other, quite unmoved; "

you don't wish to be known or heard, make him keep his distance. He's this minute in a de'il of a passion about something, an' was comin' up as if he'd ait yo

during this pause, he very naturally concluded that the baronet had witnessed his daughter's bow, so cautiously and significa

ke yourself up, and avoid drink and low company; for de'il a haet good ever the same two brought anybody; but,

, "that Mr. Fenton should remain; and say to

per, "be on your edge with him, for, if he fi

Jack, on going down stairs, "will

the apartment would permit. Be this as it may, Sir Thomas entered, and brought his ungainly person nearly to the centre of the room before he spoke. At length he did so, but took care not to accompany his words with that courtesy of manner, or those rules of good-breeding, which ever prevail among gentlemen, whether as friends or foes. After standing fo

tribute the honor o

ill kept looking at him with the expressio

me time in our neighborhood, s

ask how

believe, of addressin

have tha

nious visit, in which he does not condescend either to annou

so as a magistrate, sir," replied the baronet, "I'm entitled to make such inquiries

k and position you allude to much more effectually, by letting such inquiries fall within the pr

manner, I shall follow my

ces of suspicion do you de

ng. You have hemmed yourself in by a mystery, sir; you have studiously concealed your name-your connections-and defaced every mark b

iet way-perhaps to recruit his health, perhaps to relax his mind, perhaps to gratify a whim-but he must be pounced upon by some outrageous dispenser of magisterial

ry fine, and very humorous; but

n the fire which gleamed from it, as the baronet uttered the last words. He wa

o you dare to apply suc

t, during which he could perceive that the s

ns such as you come in this skulking way, probably for the

nuate myself into yours," asked

said the other, without replying to him, "it is the business of

airs that don't-" he was about to add, "that don't concern him," when he paused, and added, "into any man's affairs. Every man has a right to travel incognito, and to live incognito, if he chooses; and, on that account, sir, so long

d the baronet, who thought that, in the stranger's mome

, and a gentleman, I shall

ntinued the other, his face still p

d the other, "I br

turned the baronet-"

a man of spirit ought to remember," said the othe

was proceeding to mount his horse at the door, when Counsellor C

speaking to that strange fellow above; I pledge you my honor I did not listen; but I co

ght-"Can you, in truth, tell me anything about him, Mr

ied the worthy counsellor; "and that is, that I know he

ghastly-"to Birney!-to my blackest and bitterest enemy-to the man who, I suspect, has important family documents of mine in his possession. Thanks, even for this, Crack

to time, toward Fenton, who appeared to have lost consciousness itself so long as the baronet

with a face of great distress, from which the perspir