He moved as if his veins had been filled with quicksilver, his eyes brightened, and his naturally keen and knavish-looking features were sharpened, as it were, into an expression so acutely sinister, that he resembled a staunch old hound who comes unexpectedly upon the fresh slot of a hare.
"Well," said he, rubbing his hands--"well, go on--what happened?
Do you hear, Harry?
What happened?
Of course they're at the distillation again.
Don't you hear me, I say?
What was the upshot ?" "Why, the upshot was," replied the other, "that nothing of sufficient importance has been discovered yet; but we have reason to suppose that they're engaged in the process of forgery or coining, as they were in that of illicit distillation under the patronage of the virtuous Hycy Burke, or Hycy the accomplished, as he calls himself." "Tut, tut!" exclaimed Clinton, disappointed--"so after all, there has been nothing done ?" "Oh, yes, there has been something done; for instance, all these matters have been laid before Mr.Vanston, and he has had two or three interviews with Chevydale, in whose estimation he has exonerated young M'Mahon from the charge of bribery and ingratitude.

Fethertonge holds such a position now with his employer that an infant's breath would almost blow him out of his good opinion." "I'll tell you what, Harry, I think you have it in your power among you to punish these rogues; and I think, too, it's a pity that Fethertonge should escape.

A breath will dislodge him, you say; but for fear it should not, we will give him a breeze." "I am to meet Vanston at Chevydale's by-and-by, uncle.

There's to be an investigation there; and by the way, allow me to bring Hycy's anonymous letter with me--it may serve an honest man and help to punish a rogue.
What if you would come down with me, and give him the breeze ?" "Well," replied the uncle, "for the novelty of the thing I don't care if I do.

I like, after all, to see a rogue punished, especially when he is not prepared for it." After a little delay they repaired to Chevydale's house, armed with Hycy's anonymous letter to Clinton, as well as with the document which the old squire, as he was called, had left for Thomas M'Mahon and his son.