that he was now perfectly safe in the crime he had committed, and that his path was never to be crossed by him, whom, of all men living, he had most feared and hated.  The reader is not to suppose, however, that by the ruin of Connor, and the revenge he consequently had gained upon Fardorougha, the scope of his dark designs was by any means accomplished.  Far from it; the fact is, his measures were only in a progressive state.  In Nogher M’Cormick’s last interview with Connor, our readers will please to remember that a hint had been thrown out by that attached old follower, of Flanagan’s entertaining certain guilty purposes involving nothing less than the abduction of Una.  Now, in justice even to Flanagan, we are bound to say that no one living had ever received from himself any intimation of such an intention.  The whole story was fabricated by Nogher for the purpose of getting Connor’s consent to the vengeance which it had been determined to execute upon his enemy.  By a curious coincidence, however,the story, though decidedly false so far as Nogher knew to the contrary, happened to be literally and absolutely true.  Flanagan, indeed, was too skilful and secret, either to precipitate his own designs until the feeling of the parties should abate and settle down, or to place himself at the mercy of another person’s honesty.  He knew his own heart too well to risk his life by such dangerous and unseasonable confidence.  Some months consequently passed away since.  Connor’s departure, when an event took place, which gave him still greater security.  This was nothing less than the fulfilment by Fardorougha of that plan to which he looked forward with such prospective satisfaction, Connor had not been a month gone when his father commenced to dispose of his property, which he soon did, having sold out his farm to good advantage.  He then paid his rent, the only debt he owed; and, having taken a passage to New South Wales for himself and Honor, they departed with melancholy satisfaction to seek that son without whose society they found their desolate hearth gloomier than the cell of a prison.

This was followed, too, by another circumstance—­but one apparently of little importance—­which was, the removal of Biddy Nulty to the Bodagh’s family, through the interference of Una, by whom she was treated with singular affection, and admitted to her confidence.

Such was the position of the parties after, the lapse of five months subsequent to the transportation of Connor.  Flanagan had conducted himself with great circumspection, and, so far as public observation could go, with much propriety.  There was no change whatsoever perceptible, either in his dress or manner except that alluded to by Nogher of his altogether declining to taste any intoxicating liquor.  In truth, so well did he act his part, that the obloquy raised against him at the period of Connor’s trial was nearly, if not altogether, removed, and many persons once more adopted an impression of his victim’s guilt.