“No, faith, you don’t,” replied Norton, grinning in his turn.  “However, listen to me.  Do you not think, now, that if you placed your case in the hands of some one that stands well with his lordship, and who could use his influence in your behalf, you might have better success?”

“I’m the best judge of that myself,” replied M’Bride.  “As it is, I have, or can have, two strings to my bow.  I have only to go to a certain person, and say I’m sorry for what I’ve done, and I’ve no doubt but I’d come well off.”

“Well, and why don’t you?  If I were in your case, I’d consider myself first, though.”

“I don’t know,” replied the other, as if undecided.  “I think, afther all, I’m in better hands.  Unless Lord Cullamore is doting, I’m sure of that fact.  I don’t intend to remain in this counthry.  I’ll go back to France or to America; I can’t yet say which.”

“Take your punch in the meantime; take off your liquor, I say, and it’ll clear your head.  Come, off with it.  I don’t know why, but I have taken a fancy to you.  Your face is an honest one, and if I knew what your business with his lordship is, I’d give you a lift.”

“Thank you, sir,” replied the other; “but the truth is, I’m afeard to take much till after I see him.  I must have all my wits about me, and keep myself steady.”

“Do put it in my power to serve you.  Tell me what your business is, and, by the honor of my name, I’ll assist you.”

“At present,” replied M’Bride, “I can’t; but if I could meet you after I see his lordship, I don’t say but we might talk more about it.”

“Very well,” replied Norton; “you won’t regret it.  In the course of a short time I shall have the complete management of the whole Cullamore property; and who can say that, if you put confidence in me now, I may not have it in my power to employ you beneficially for yourself?”

“Come then, sir,” replied M’Bride, “let me have another tumbler, on the head of it.  I think one more will do me no harm; as you say, sir, it’ll clear my head.”

This was accordingly produced, and M’Bride began to become, if not more communicative, at least more loquacious, and seemed disposed to place confidence in Norton, to whom, however, he communicated nothing of substantial importance.

“I think,” said the latter, “if I don’t mistake, that I am acquainted with some of your relations.”

“That may easily be,” replied the other; “and it has struck me two or three times that I have seen your face before, but I can’t tell where.”

“Very likely,” replied Norton; “but 111 tell you what, we must get better acquainted.  Are you in any employment at present?”

“I’m doing nothing,” said the other; “and the few pounds I had are now gone to a few shillings; so that by to-morrow or next day, I’ll be forced to give my teeth a holiday.”