What if you would come down with me, and give him the breeze?"
"Well," replied the uncle, "for the novelty of the thing I don't care if
I do. I like, after all, to see a rogue punished, especially when he is
not prepared for it."
After a little delay they repaired to Chevydale's house, armed with
Hycy's anonymous letter to Clinton, as well as with the document which
the old squire, as he was called, had left for Thomas M'Mahon and his
son. They found the two gentlemen on much better terms than one would
have expected; but, in reality, the state of the country was such as
forced them to open their eyes not merely to the folly of harboring mere
political resentments or senseless party prejudices against each other,
but to the absolute necessity that existed for looking closely into the
state of their property, and the deplorable condition to which, if
they did not take judicious and decisive steps, it must eventually be
reduced. They now began to discover a fact which they ought, long since,
to have known--viz.:--that the condition of the people and that of their
property was one and the same--perfectly identical in all things; and
that a poor tenantry never yet existed upon a thriving or independent
estate, or one that was beneficial to the landlord.
Vanston had been with his late opponent for some time before the arrival
of Clinton and his nephew; and, as their conversation may not, perhaps,
be without some interest to our readers, we shall detail a portion of
it.
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