After a pause, in which Francis Ardry appeared lost in thought, his mind being probably occupied with the subject of Annette, I broke silence by observing, ’So your fellow-religionists are really going to make a serious attempt to procure their emancipation?’

‘Yes,’ said Francis Ardry, starting from his reverie; ’everything has been arranged; even a leader has been chosen, at least for us of Ireland, upon the whole the most suitable man in the world for the occasion—­a barrister of considerable talent, mighty voice, and magnificent impudence.  With emancipation, liberty, and redress for the wrongs of Ireland in his mouth, he is to force his way into the British House of Commons, dragging myself and others behind him—­he will succeed, and when he is in he will cut a figure; I have heard—­himself, who has heard him speak, say that he will cut a figure.’

‘And is—­competent to judge?’ I demanded.

‘Who but he?’ said Francis Ardry; ’no one questions his judgment concerning what relates to elocution.  His fame on that point is so well established, that the greatest orators do not disdain occasionally to consult him; C—–­ himself, as I have been told, when anxious to produce any particular effect in the House, is in the habit of calling in—­for a consultation.’

‘As to matter, or manner?’ said I.

‘Chiefly the latter,’ said Francis Ardry, ’though he is competent to give advice as to both, for he has been an orator in his day, and a leader of the people; though he confessed to me that he was not exactly qualified to play the latter part—­“I want paunch,” said he.’

‘It is not always indispensable,’ said I; ’there is an orator in my town, a hunchback and watchmaker, without it, who not only leads the people, but the mayor too; perhaps he has a succedaneum in his hunch:  but, tell me, is the leader of your movement in possession of that which—­wants?’

‘No more deficient in it than in brass,’ said Francis Ardry.

‘Well,’ said I, ’whatever his qualifications may be, I wish him success in the cause which he has taken up—­I love religious liberty.’

‘We shall succeed,’ said Francis Ardry; ’John Bull upon the whole is rather indifferent on the subject, and then we are sure to be backed by the Radical party, who, to gratify their political prejudices, would join with Satan himself.’

‘There is one thing,’ said I, ’connected with this matter which surprises me—­your own lukewarmness.  Yes, making every allowance for your natural predilection for dog-fighting, and your present enamoured state of mind, your apathy at the commencement of such a movement is to me unaccountable.’