Lord Colambre was much surprised at Larry’s knowledge of the manner in which county business is managed, as well as by his shrewd good sense:  he did not know that this is not uncommon in his rank of life in Ireland.

Whilst Larry was speaking, Lord Colambre was looking from side to side at the desolation of the prospect.

‘So this is Lord Clonbrony’s estate, is it?’

’Ay, all you see, and as far and farther than you can see.  My Lord Clonbrony wrote, and ordered plantations here, time back; and enough was paid to labourers for ditching and planting.  And, what next?—­Why, what did the under-agent do, but let the goats in through gaps, left o’ purpose, to bark the trees, and then the trees was all banished.  And next, the cattle was let in trespassing, and winked at, till the land was all poached; and then the land was waste, and cried down; and St. Dennis wrote up to Dublin to old Nick, and he over to the landlord, how none would take it, or bid anything at all for it; so then it fell to him a cheap bargain.  Oh, the tricks of them! who knows ’em, if I don’t?’

Presently, Lord Colambre’s attention was roused again, by seeing a man running, as if for his life, across a bog, near the roadside; he leaped over the ditch, and was upon the road in an instant.  He seemed startled at first, at the sight of the carriage; but, looking at the postillion, Larry nodded, and he smiled and said—­

‘All’s safe!’

’Pray, my good friend, may I ask what that is you have on your shoulder?’ said Lord Colambre.

Plase your honour, it is only a private still, which I’ve just caught out yonder in the bog; and I’m carrying it in with all speed to the gauger, to make a discovery, that the jantleman may benefit by the reward; I expect he’ll make me a compliment.’

‘Get up behind, and I’ll give you a lift,’ said the postillion.

‘Thank you kindly—­but better my legs!’ said the man; and turning down a lane, off he ran again as fast as possible.

‘Expect he’ll make me a compliment,’ repeated Lord Colambre, ’to make a discovery!’

Ay, plase your honour; for the law is,’ said Larry, ’that, if an unlawful still, that is, a still without license for whisky, is found, half the benefit of the fine that’s put upon the parish goes to him that made the discovery; that’s what that man is after, for he’s an informer.’

‘I should not have thought, from what I see of you,’ said Lord Colambre, smiling, ‘that you, Larry, would have offered an informer a lift.’

‘Oh, plase your honour!’ said Larry, smiling archly, ’would not I give the laws a lift, when in my power?’

Scarcely had he uttered these words, and scarcely was the informer out of sight, when across the same bog, and over the ditch, came another man, a half kind of gentleman, with a red silk handkerchief about his neck, and a silver-handled whip in his hand.