and windows securely fastened, and the gas extinguished, than both
these parties accompanied by Tom with a bed-room lamp in his hand,
proceeded to a small and comfortable apartment which was sacred to
the foot of every individual who was not a tried friend of O'Brien.
Here all three seated themselves beside a comfortable coal fire that
burned brightly in the grate: when Tom, on extinguishing the lamp,
after having lit the jet of gas that hung in the centre of the room,
exclaimed:--

"Nick, my name's not Tom O'Brien, or we have got the divil up-stairs!--but
what he's up to it's hard to say: although I thought it was jist as
well to let him take up his quarthers here, seem that I'll be able to
keep an eye on him--now that the times are becomin sarious."

"Certainly," replied Barry, "his appearance is far from prepossessing,
but you know, Tom, it's not always safe to judge a man by this criterion."

"That's thrue," returned the other, "but didn't you hear the fella how
he wanted to sift you about the Irish sintiment of the garrison, as
well as lade us out upon the feelins of the Irish in gineral throughout
the Province?"

"I did, of course," answered Nick, "but really thought that the
gentleman, being a stranger, was simply asking for information's sake
only, and had no ulterior object in view."

"I agree with you, O'Brien," interrupted the third party, who was
named Burk, and who had been in the saloon during the period Greaves
was present, "there can be nothing good in so cunning a face; but
what is the real news to-night, and have you heard from New York or