"
"How came you to run away out of your farm?"
"Run away, your honor! Grod he knows, I didn't run away, sir. The whole
counthry knows that."
"Yes, ran away! Mr. Carson, here, stated to me this morning, that
you ran away. He is a gentleman of integrity, and would not state a
falsehood."
"I beg your pardon, Colonel, not positively. I told you I did not
exactly remember the circumstances; I said I thought so; but I may be
wrong, for, indeed, my memory of facts is not good. M'Evoy, however,
is a very honest man, and I have no doubt will state everything as it
happened, fairly and without malice."
"An honest 'rascal,' I suppose you mean, Mr. Carson," said the Colonel,
bitterly. "Proceed, M'Evoy."
M'Evoy stated the circumstances precisely as the reader is already
acquainted with them, after which the Colonel turned round to his agent
and inquired what he had to say in reply.
"You cannot expect, Colonel B------," he replied, "that with such a
multiplicity of business on my hands, I could remember, after a lapse of
ten years, the precise state of this particular case. Perhaps I may have
some papers, a memorandum or so, at home, that may throw light upon it.
At present I can only say, that the man failed in his rents, I ejected
him, and put a better tenant in his place. I cannot see a crime in
that."
"Plase your honor," replied M'Evoy, "I can prove by them that's standin'
to the fore this minute, as well as by this written affidavit, sir,
that I offered him the full rint, havin', at the same time, as God is my
judge, ped part of it afore.
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