’Excellent salad!  So this Mr. Burke has done a great deal, has he?  In what way!’

’In every way, sir—­sure was not it he that had improved, and fostered, and made the town of Colambre?—­no thanks to the proprietor, nor to the young man whose name it bears, neither!’

‘Have you any porter, pray, sir?’

’We have, sir, as good, I hope, as you’d drink in London, for it’s the same you get there, I understand, from Cork.  And I have some of my own brewing, which, they say, you could not tell the difference between it and Cork quality—­if you’d be pleased to try.  Harry, the corkscrew.’

The porter of his own brewing was pronounced to be extremely good; and the landlord observed it was Mr. Burke encouraged him to learn to brew, and lent him his own brewer for a time to teach him.

’Your Mr. Burke, I find, is apropos to porter, apropos to salad, apropos to cutlets, apropos to everything,’ said Lord Colambre, smiling; ’he seems to be a non-PAREIL of an agent.  I suppose you are a great favourite of his, and you do what you please with him?’

’Oh no, sir, I could not say that; Mr. Burke does not have favourites anyway; but according to my deserts, I trust, I stand well enough with him, for, in truth, he is a right good agent.’

Lord Colambre still pressed for particulars; he was an Englishman, and a stranger, he said, and did not exactly know what was meant in Ireland by a good agent.

’Why, he is the man that will encourage the improving tenant; and show no favour or affection, but justice, which comes even to all, and does best for all at the long run; and, residing always in the country, like Mr. Burke, and understanding country business, and going about continually among the tenantry, he knows when to press for the rent, and when to leave the money to lay out upon the land; and, according as they would want it, can give a tenant a help or a check properly.  Then no duty-work called for, no presents, nor glove-money, nor sealing-money even, taken or offered; no underhand hints about proposals, when land would be out of lease, but a considerable preference, if desArved, to the old tenant, and if not, a fair advertisement, and the best offer and tenant accepted; no screwing of the land to the highest penny, just to please the head landlord for the minute, and ruin him at the end, by the tenant’s racking the land, and running off with the year’s rent; nor no bargains to his own relations or friends did Mr. Burke ever give or grant, but all fair between landlord and tenant; and that’s the thing that will last; and that’s what I call the good agent.’

Lord Colambre poured out a glass of wine, and begged the innkeeper to drink the good agent’s health, in which he was heartily pledged.  ’I thank your honour;—­Mr. Burke’s health! and long may he live over and amongst us; he saved me from drink and ruin, when I was once inclined to it, and made a man of me and all my family.’