Sir, As I have no further occasion for your services, you will take notice, that I hereby request you will forthwith hand over, on or before the 1st of November next, your accounts, with the balance due of the hanging-Gale (which, I understand, is more than ought to be at this season) to Nicholas O’Garraghty, Esq., College Green, Dublin, who in future will act as agent, and shall get, by post, immediately, a power of attorney for the same, entitling him to receive and manage the Colambre as well as the Clonbrony estate, for, Sir, your obedient humble servant, Clonbrony.

‘Grosvenor square.’

Though misrepresentation, caprice, or interest, might have induced Lord Clonbrony to desire to change his agent, yet Lord Colambre knew that his father never could have announced his wishes in such a style; and, as he returned the letter to Mrs. Burke, he repeated, he was convinced that it was impossible that any nobleman could have written such a letter; that it must have been written by some inferior person; and that his lordship had signed it without reading it.

‘My dear, I’m sorry you showed that letter to Mr. Evans,’ said Mr. Burke; ’I don’t like to expose Lord Clonbrony; he is a well-meaning gentleman, misled by ignorant or designing people; at all events, it is not for us to expose him.’

‘He has exposed himself,’ said Mrs. Burke; ’and the world should know it.’

‘He was very kind to me when I was a young man,’ said Mr. Burke; ’we must not forget that now, because we are angry, my love.’

’Why, no, my love, to be sure we should not; but who could have recollected it just at this minute but yourself?—­And now, sir,’ turning to Lord Colambre, ’you see what kind of a man this is:  now is it not difficult for me to bear patiently to see him ill-treated?’

‘Not only difficult, but impossible, I should think, madam,’ said Lord Colambre; ’I know, even I, who am a stranger, cannot help feeling for both of you, as you must see I do.’

‘And half the world, who don’t know him,’ continued Mrs. Burke, ’when they hear that Lord Clonbrony’s agency is taken from him, will think, perhaps, that he is to blame.’

‘No, madam,’ said Lord Colambre; ’that you need not fear; Mr. Burke may safely trust to his character; from what I have within these two days seen and heard, I am convinced that such is the respect he has deserved and acquired, that no blame can touch him.’

‘Sir, I thank you,’ said Mrs. Burke, the tears coming into her eyes; ’you can judge—­you do him justice; but there are so many who don’t know him, and who will decide without knowing any of the facts.’

‘That, my dear, happens about everything to everybody,’ said Mr. Burke; ’but we must have patience; time sets all judgments right, sooner or later.’

‘But the sooner the better,’ said Mrs. Burke.  ’Mr. Evans, I hope you will be so kind, if ever you hear this business talked of—­’