Mrs.Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty took off the brooch and showed it to him.
"'Who is the artist ?' says my Lord.

'It's the most wonderful likeness I ever saw in my life!' "'Mulcahy,' says she, 'of Ormond's Quay.' "'Begad, I patronise him!' says my Lord; but presently his face darkened, and he gave back the picture with a dissatisfied air.

'There is one fault in that portrait,' said his Lordship, who was a rigid disciplinarian; 'and I wonder that my friend Mick, as a military man, should have overlooked it.' "'What's that ?' says Mrs.Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty.
"'Madam, he has been painted WITHOUT HIS SWORD-BELT!' And he took up the cards again in a passion, and finished the game without saying a single word.
"The news was carried to Mr.Mulcahy the next day, and that unfortunate artist _went mad immediately_! He had set his whole reputation upon this miniature, and declared that it should be faultless.

Such was the effect of the announcement upon his susceptible heart! When Mrs.Hoggarty died, your uncle took the portrait and always wore it himself.

His sisters said it was for the sake of the diamond; whereas, ungrateful things! it was merely on account of their hair, and his love for the fine arts.