"
"Come in, and let us have a glass of poteen grog, in the mean time,"
said Hycy, "for it's better still in grog than in punch. It's a famous
relish for a slice of ham; but, as the Scotch say, baith's best."
Having discussed the grog and ham, the conversation went on.
"Hycy," proceeded his companion, "with respect to that foolish
arrangement or bargain we made the other night, I won't have anything
to say or do in it. You shall impoverish or ruin no honest man on my
account. I was half drunk or whole drunk, otherwise I wouldn't have
listened to such a proposal."
"What do you mean?" said Hycy, with a look of very natural surprise, and
a pause of some time, "I don't understand you."
"Don't you remember the foolish kind of stipulation we entered into with
reference to M'Mahon's farm, of Ahadarra, on the one hand, and my most
amiable (d--n me but I ought to be horsewhipped for it) sister on the
other?"
"No," replied Hycy, "devil a syllable. My word and honor, Harry."
"Well, if you don't, then, it's all right. You didn't appear to be
tipsy, though."
"I never do, Harry. In that respect I'm the d--dest, hypocritical rascal
in Europe. I'm a perfect phenomenon; for, in proportion as I get drunk
in intellect, I get sober both in my carriage and appearance. However,
in Heaven's name let me know the bargain if there was one?"
"No, no," replied his friend, "it was a disgraceful affair on both
sides, and the less that's said of it the better.
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