Our readers have been, no doubt, somewhat surprised at the sudden disappearance of Nell.  This artful and vindictive woman had, as we have stated, been closely dogged through all her turnings and windings, by the emissaries of Mr. Brookleigh.  For this haunt where she was in the habit of meeting her private friends.  The preparations, however, for the approaching fight, and the tumult it excited in the town, afforded her an opportunity of giving her spies the slip.  She went, on the evening before the battle, to a small dark cabin in one of the most densely inhabited parts of the town, where, secure in their privacy, she found Nanse M’Collum, who had never left the town since the night of the robbery, together with the man called Rody, and another hardened ruffian with red hair.

“Dher ma chuirp,” said she, without even a word of precious salutation, “but I’ll,lay my life that Lamh Laudher bates the black.  In that case he’d be higher up wid the town than ever.  He knocked him down last night.”

“Well,” said Rody, “an’ what if he does?  I would feel rather satisfied at that circumstance.  I served the black dog for five years, and a more infernal tyrant never existed, nor a milder or more amiable woman than his wife.  Now that you have his money, the sooner the devil gets himself the better.”

“To the black diouol wid yourself an’ your Englified gosther,” returned Nell indignantly; “his wife! Damno’ orth, don’t make my blood boil by speaking a word in her favor.  If Lamh Laudher comes off best, all I’ve struv for is knocked on the head. Dher Chiernah, I’ll crush the sowl of his father or I’ll not die happy.”

“Nell, you’re bittherer than soot, and blacker too,” observed Rody.

“Am I?” said Nell, “an’ is it from the good crathur that was ready, the other night, to murdher the mild innocent woman that he spakes so well of, that we hear sich discoorse?”

“You’re mistaken there, Nelly,” replied Body; “I had no intention of taking away her life, although I believe my worthy comrade here in the red hair, that I helped out of a certain gaol once upon a time, had no scruples.”

“No, curse the scruple!” said the other.

“I was in the act of covering her eyes and mouth to prevent her from either knowing her old servant or making a noise,—­but d——­ it, I was bent to save her life that night, rather than take it,” said Rody.

“I know this friend of yours, Rody, but a short time,” observed Nell; “but if he hasn’t more spunk in him than yourself, he’s not worth his feedin’.”

“Show me,” said the miscreant, “what s to be done, life or purse—­an’ here’s your sort for both.”

“Come, then,” said Nell, “by the night above us, we’ll thry your mettle.”

“Never heed her,” observed Nanse; “aunt, you’re too wicked an’ revengeful.”

“Am I?” said the aunt.  “I tuck an oath many a year ago, that I’d never die till I’d put sharp sorrow into Lamh Laudher’s sowl.  I punished him through his daughter, I’ll now grind the heart in him through his son.”