You don't answer ?" "But, worthy Hycy, what if Maria should reject you--discard you--give you to the winds ?--eh ?" "Even in that case, provided you support me honestly, I shall hold myself bound to keep my engagement with you, and put M'Mahon out as a beggar." "What! as a beggar ?" "Ay, as a beggar; and then no blame could possibly attach to you for succeeding him, and certainly no suspicion." "Hum! as a beggar.

But the poor fellow never offended me.

Confound it, he never offended me, nor any one else as far as I know.

I don't much relish that, Hycy." "It cannot be done though in any other way." "I say--how do you call that girl ?--Jenny, or Peggy, or Molly, or what ?" "I wish to heaven you could be serious, Harry.

If not, I shall drop the subject altogether." "There now--proceed, O Hyacinthus." "How can I proceed, when you won't pay attention to me; or, what is more, to your own interests ?" "Oh! my own interests!--well I am alive to them." "Is it a bargain, then ?" "It is a bargain, most ingenuous, most subtle, and most conscientious Hycy! Enable me to enter upon the farm of Ahadarra--to get possession of it--and calculate upon my most--let me see--what's the best word--most strenuous advocacy.