MR.

BLAKE.
Nothing but the exigency of the case could ever have persuaded my uncle to stoop to the humiliation of canvassing the individual to whom I was now about to proceed as envoy-extraordinary, with full powers to make any or every _amende_, provided only his interest and that of his followers should be thereby secured to the O'Malley cause.

The evening before I set out was devoted to giving me all the necessary instructions how I was to proceed, and what difficulties I was to avoid.
"Say your uncle's in high feather with the government party," said Sir Harry, "and that he only votes against them as a _ruse de guerre_, as the French call it." "Insist upon it that I am sure of the election without him; but that for family reasons he should not stand aloof from me; that people are talking of it in the country." "And drop a hint," said Considine, "that O'Malley is greatly improved in his shooting." "And don't get drunk too early in the evening, for Phil Blake has beautiful claret," said another.
"And be sure you don't make love to the red-headed girls," added a third; "he has four of them, each more sinfully ugly than the other." "You'll be playing whist, too," said Boyle; "and never mind losing a few pounds.

Mrs.B., long life to her, has a playful way of turning the king." "Charley will do it all well," said my uncle; "leave him alone.

And now let us have in the supper." It was only on the following morning, as the tandem came round to the door, that I began to feel the importance of my mission, and certain misgivings came over me as to my ability to fulfil it.