He consequently
had come to the determination of writing again to M'Mahon upon the same
subject, when chance brought them together in the market of Ballymacan.
After the usual preliminary inquiries as to health, Hycy opened the
matter:--
"I asked you to lend me five-and-thirty pounds to secure Crazy Jane,"
said he, "and you didn't even answer my letter. I admit I'm pretty
deeply in your debt, as it is, my dear Bryan, but you know I'm safe."
"I'm not at this moment thinking much of money matters, Hycy; but,
as you like plain speaking, I tell you candidly that I'll lend you no
money."
Hycy's manner changed all at once; he looked at M'Mahon for nearly a
minute, and said in quite a different tone--
"What is the cause of this coldness, Bryan? Have I offended you?"
"Not knowingly--but you have offended me; an' that's all I'll say about
it."
"I'm not aware of it," replied the other---"my word and honor I'm not."
Bryan felt himself in a position of peculiar difficulty; he could not
openly quarrel with Hycy, unless he made up his mind to disclose the
grounds of the dispute, which, as matters then stood between him and
Kathleen Cavanagh, to whom he had not actually declared his affection,
would have been an act of great presumption on his part.
"Good-bye, Hycy," said he; "I have tould you my mind, and now I've done
with it.
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