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For some years previous to the time laid in our tale, the family of Condy Dalton began to decline very perceptibly in their circumstances. There had been unpropitious seasons; there had been failure of crops and disease among the cattle and, perhaps what was the worst scourge of all, there existed a bad landlord in the person of Dick-o'-the-Grange.
A fortnight had now elapsed since the scene in which young Dalton had poured out his despair and misery over the dead body of Peggy Murtagh, and during that period an incident occurred, which, although by no means akin to the romantic, had produced, nevertheless, a change in the position of Dick-o'-the-Grange himself, without effecting any either in his designs or inclinations.
And it wasn't I, Peggy, it was poverty oh you know how I loved you! it was the downcome we got it was Dick-o'-the-Grange, that oppressed us that ruined us that put us out without house or home it was he, and it was my father my father that they say has blood on his hand, an' I don't doubt it, or he wouldn't act the part he did it was he, too that prevented me from doin' what my heart encouraged me to do for you!
This man, who was generally known by the sobriquet of Red Body, had been for some time looking after the situation of bailiff or driver to Dick-o'-the-Grange; and as Hanlon was supposed to possess a good deal of influence with young Dick, Duncan very properly thought he could not do better than cultivate his acquaintance.
Now this person was no other than Red Rody Duncan, to whom our friend Jemmy Branigan made such opprobrious allusion in the character of the Black Prophet to Dick-o'-the-Grange.
"Now," said he, at length; "now, Peggy dear, listen so may God never prosper me, if I don't work bitther vengeance on them that along wid myself, was the means of bringin' you to this Dick-o'-the-Grange, an' Darby Skinadre, for if Darby had given you what you wanted, you might be yet a livin' woman.
Dick-o'-the-Grange, though vulgar and eccentric, was by no means deficient in shrewdness and common sense neither was he, deliberately, an unjust man; but, like too many in the world, he generally suffered his prejudices and his interests to take the same side.
Dick-o'-the-Grange whose name was Henderson at least such is the name we choose to give him held his office, as many Irish magistrates have done before him, in his own parlor; that is to say, he sat in an arm-chair at one of the windows, which was thrown open for him, while those who came to seek justice, or, as they termed it, law, at his hands, were compelled to stand uncovered on the outside, no matter whether the weather was stormy or otherwise.
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