to　Ellen；　for　he　could　not　disguise　from
  himself　the　danger　which　the　secrecy　of
  his　connection　with　her　must　incur　by　his
  communicating　with　her；　even　through　a
  public　office；　where　their　letters　might　be
  permitted　to　lie　longer　than　the　gossiping
  inquisitiveness　of　a　country　town　would
  warrant　him　in　supposing　safe。
  It　was　about　a　fortnight　after　young
  O'Mara　had　arrived　in　Dublin；　where　all
  things；　and　places；　and　amusements；　and
  persons　seemed　thoroughly　stale；　flat；　and
  unprofitable；　when　one　day；　tempted　by
  the　unusual　fineness　of　the　weather；　Lady
  Emily　proposed　a　walk　in　the　College
  Park；　a　favourite　promenade　at　that　time。
  She　therefore　with　young　O'Mara；　accompanied
  by　Dwyer　（who；　by…the…by；　when
  he　pleased；　could　act　the　gentleman
  sufficiently　well）；　proceeded　to　the　place
  proposed；　where　they　continued　to　walk　for
  some　time。
  'Why；　Richard；'　said　Lady　Emily；　after
  a　tedious　and　unbroken　pause　of　some
  minutes；　'you　are　becoming　worse　and
  worse　every　day。　You　are　growing　absolutely
  intolerable；　perfectly　stupid！　not
  one　good　thing　have　I　heard　since　I　left
  the　house。'
  O'Mara　smiled；　and　was　seeking　for　a
  suitable　reply；　when　his　design　was
  interrupted；　and　his　attention　suddenly　and
  painfully　arrested；　by　the　appearance　of
  two　figures；　who　were　slowly　passing　the
  broad　walk　on　which　he　and　his　party
  moved；　the　one　was　that　of　Captain
  N；　the　other　was　the　form　ofMartin
  Heathcote！
  O'Mara　felt　confounded；　almost　stunned；
  the　anticipation　of　some　impending
  mischiefof　an　immediate　and　violent
  collision　with　a　young　man　whom　he　had　ever
  regarded　as　his　friend；　were　apprehensions
  which　such　a　juxtaposition　could　not　fail
  to　produce。
  'Is　Heathcote　mad？'　thought　he。
  'What　devil　can　have　brought　him
  here？'
  Dwyer　having　exchanged　a　significant
  glance　with　O'Mara；　said　slightly　to　Lady
  Emily：
  'Will　your　ladyship　excuse　me　for　a
  moment？　I　have　a　word　to　say　to　Captain
  N；　and　will；　with　your　permission；
  immediately　rejoin　you。'
  He　bowed；　and　walking　rapidly　on；　was
  in　a　few　moments　beside　the　object　of　his
  and　his　patron's　uneasiness。
  Whatever　Heathcote's　object　might　be；
  he　certainly　had　not　yet　declared　the　secret；
  whose　safety　O'Mara　had　so　naturally
  desired；　for　Captain　N　appeared　in
  good　spirits；　and　on　coming　up　to　his
  sister　and　her　companion；　he　joined　them
  for　a　moment；　telling　O'Mara；　laughingly；
  that　an　old　quiz　had　come　from　the　country
  for　the　express　purpose　of　telling　tales；　as
  it　was　to　be　supposed；　of　him　（young
  O'Mara）；　in　whose　neighbourhood　he
  lived。
  During　this　speech　it　required　all　the
  effort　which　it　was　possible　to　exert　to
  prevent　O'Mara's　betraying　the　extreme
  agitation　to　which　his　situation　gave　rise。
  Captain　N；　however；　suspected　no…
  thing；　and　passed　on　without　further
  delay。
  Dinner　was　an　early　meal　in　those　days；
  and　Lady　Emily　was　obliged　to　leave　the
  Park　in　less　than　half　an　hour　after　the
  unpleasant　meeting　which　we　have　just
  mentioned。
  Young　O'Mara　and；　at　a　sign　from
  him；　Dwyer　having　escorted　the　lady
  to　the　door　of　Colonel　O'Mara's　house；
  pretended　an　engagement；　and　departed
  together。
  Richard　O'Mara　instantly　questioned
  his　comrade　upon　the　subject　of　his
  anxiety；　but　Dwyer　had　nothing　to
  communicate　of　a　satisfactory　nature。　He
  had　only　time；　while　the　captain　had　been
  engaged　with　Lady　Emily　and　her
  companion；　to　say　to　Heathcote：
  'Be　secret；　as　you　value　your　existence：
  everything　will　be　right；　if　you　be　but
  secret。'
  To　this　Heathcote　had　replied：　'Never
  fear　me；　I　understand　what　I　am
  about。'
  This　was　said　in　such　an　ambiguous
  manner　that　it　was　impossible　to　conjecture
  whether　he　intended　or　not　to　act　upon
  Dwyer's　exhortation。　The　conclusion
  which　appeared　most　natural；　was　by　no
  means　an　agreeable　one。
  It　was　much　to　be　feared　that　Heathcote
  having　heard　some　vague　report　of
  O'Mara's　engagement　with　Lady　Emily；
  perhaps　exaggerated；　by　the　repetition；
  into　a　speedily　approaching　marriage；　had
  become　alarmed　for　his　daughter's　interest；
  and　had　taken　this　decisive　step　in　order
  to　prevent；　by　a　disclosure　of　the　circumstances
  of　his　clandestine　union　with　Ellen；
  the　possibility　of　his　completing　a　guilty
  alliance　with　Captain　N's　sister。　If
  he　entertained　the　suspicions　which　they
  attributed　to　him；　he　had　certainly　taken
  the　most　effectual　means　to　prevent　their
  being　realised。　Whatever　his　object　might
  be；　his　presence　in　Dublin；　in　company
  with　Captain　N；　boded　nothing　good
  to　O'Mara。
  They　entered　's　tavern；　in　Dame
  Street；　together；　and　there；　over　a　hasty
  and　by　no　means　a　comfortable　meal；　they
  talked　over　their　plans　and　conjectures。
  Evening　closed　in；　and　found　them　still
  closeted　together；　with　nothing　to　interrupt；
  and　a　large　tankard　of　claret　to　sustain
  their　desultory　conversation。
  Nothing　had　been　determined　upon；
  except　that　Dwyer　and　O'Mara　should
  proceed　under　cover　of　the　darkness　to
  search　the　town　for　Heathcote；　and　by
  minute　inquiries　at　the　most　frequented
  houses　of　entertainment；　to　ascertain　his
  place　of　residence；　in　order　to　procuring　a
  full　and　explanatory　interview　with　him。
  They　had　each　filled　their　last　glass；　and
  were　sipping　it　slowly；　seated　with　their
  feet　stretched　towards　a　bright　cheerful
  fire；　the　small　table　which　sustained　the
  flagon　of　which　we　have　spoken；　together
  with　two　pair　of　wax　candles；　placed
  between　them；　so　as　to　afford　a　convenient
  resting…place　for　the　long　glasses　out　of
  which　they　drank。
  'One　good　result；　at　all　events；　will　be
  effected　by　Heathcote's　visit；'　said　O'Mara。
  'Before　twenty…four　hours　I　shall　do　that
  which　I　should　have　done　long　ago。　I
  shall；　without　reserve；　state　everything。
  I　can　no　longer　endure　this　suspensethis
  dishonourable　secrecythis　apparent
  dissimulation。　Every　moment　I　have　passed
  since　my　departure　from　the　country　has
  been　one　of　embarrassment；　of　pain；　of
  humiliation。　To…morrow　I　will　brave
  the　storm；　whether　successfully　or　not　is
  doubtful；　but　I　had　rather　walk　the　high
  roads　a　beggar；　than　submit　a　day　longer
  to　be　made　the　degraded　sport　of　every
  accidentthe　miserable　dependent　upon　a
  successful　system　of　deception。　Though
  PASSIVE　deception；　it　is　still　unmanly；
  unworthy；　unjustifiable　deception。　I
  cannot　bear　to　think　of　it。　I　despise　myself；
  but　I　will　cease　to　be　the　despicable　thing
  I　have　become。　To…morrow　sees　me　free；
  and　this　harassing　subject　for　ever　at
  rest。'
  He　was　interrupted　here　by　the　sound
  of　footsteps　heavily　but　rapidly　ascending
  the　tavern　staircase。　The　room　door
  opened；　and　Captain　N；　accompanied
  by　a　fashionably…attired　young　man；
  entered　the　room。
  Young　O'Mara　had　risen　from　his　seat
  on　the　entrance　of　their　unexpected
  visitants；　and　the　moment　Captain　N
  recognised　his　person；　an　evident　and
  ominous　change　passed　over　his　countenance。
  He　turned　hastily　to　withdraw；　but；
  as　it　seemed；　almost　instantly　changed　his
  mind；　for　he　turned　again　abruptly。
  'This　chamber　is　engaged；　sir；'　said　the
  waiter。
  'Leave　the　room；　sir；'　was　his　only
  reply。
  'The　room　is　engaged；　sir；'　repeated　the
  waiter；　probably　believing　that　his　first
  suggestion　had　been　unheard。
  'Leave　the　room；　or　go　to　hell！'　shouted
  Captain　N；　at　the　same　time　seizing
  the　astounded　waiter　by　the　shoulder；　he
  hurled　him　headlong　into　the　passage；
  and　flung　the　door　to　with　a　crash　that
  shook　the　walls。　'Sir；'　continued　he；
  addressing　himself　to　O'Mara；　'I　did　not
  hope　to　have　met　you　until　to…morrow。
  Fortune　has　been　kind　to　medraw；　and
  defend　yourself。'
  At　the　same　time　he　drew　his　sword；
  and　placed　himself　in　an　attitude　of
  attack。
  'I　will　not　draw　upon　YOU；'　said　O'Mara。
  'I　have；　indeed；　wronged　you。　I　have
  given　you　just　cause　for　resentment；　but
  against　your　life　I　will　never　lift　my
  hand。'
  'You　are　a　coward；　sir；'　replied　Captain
  N；　with　almost　frightful　vehemence；
  'as　every　trickster　and　swindler　IS。　You
  are　a　contemptible　dastarda　despicable；
  damned　villain！　Draw　your　sword；　sir；
  and　defend　your　life；　or　every　post
  and　pillar　in　this　town　shall　tell　your
  infamy。'
  'Perhaps；'　said　his　friend；　with　a　sneer；
  'the　gentleman　can　do　better　without　his
  honour　than　without　his　wife。'
  'Yes；'　shouted　the　captain；　'his　wife
  a　trulla　common'
  'Silence；　sir！'　cried　O'Mara；　all　the
  fierceness　of　his　nature　roused　by　this　last
  insult'your　object　is　gained；　your　blood
  be　upon　your　own　head。'　At　the　same
  time　he　sprang　across　a　bench　which　stood
  in　his　way；　and　pushing　aside　the　table
  which　supported　the　lights；　in　an　instant
  their　swords　crossed；　and　they　were
  engaged　in　close　and　deadly　strife。
  Captain　N　was　far　the　st