Still, however, he could not altogether free himself from the conviction, that both Clinton and Fethertonge must have had unquestionable grounds for the hints which they had in such a friendly way thrown out to him.
In this mood he was proceeding when he heard the noise of horses' feet behind, and in a few minutes Hycy himself and young Clinton overtook him at a rapid pace.

Their conversation was friendly, as usual, when Bryan, on seeing Hycy about to dash off at the same rapid rate, said, "If you are not in a particular hurry, Hycy, I'd wish to have a word with you." The latter immediately pulled up, exclaiming, "a word, Bryan! ay, a hundred--certainly.

Clinton, ride on a bit, will you?
till I have some conversation with M'Mahon.

Well, Bryan ?" "Hycy," proceeded Bryan, "I always like to be aboveboard.

Will you allow me to ask if you have any bad feelings against me ?" "Will you answer me another question ?" replied Hycy.
"If I can I will," said Bryan.
"Well, then,"'replied Hycy, "I will answer you most candidly, Bryan--not the slightest; but I do assure you that I thought you had such a feeling against me." "And you wor right, too," returned Bryan "for I really had." "I remember," proceeded Hycy, "that when I asked you to lend me thirty-five pounds--and by the way that reminds me that I am still pretty deep in your debt--you would neither lend it nor give any satisfactory reason why you refused me; now, what occasioned that feeling, Bryan ?" "It's by the merest chance that I happen to have the cause of it in my pocket," replied M'Mahon, who, as he spoke, handed him the letter which Peety Dhu had delivered to him from Hycy himself.