CHAPTER XVII .-- Interview between Hycy and Finigan.
-- The Former Propones for Miss Clinton--A love Scene Hycy, after his conversation with Bryan M'Mahon, felt satisfied that he had removed all possible suspicion from himself, but at the same time he ransacked his mind in order to try who it was that had betrayed him to Bryan.

The Hogans he had no reason to suspect, because from experience he knew them to be possessed of a desperate and unscrupulous fidelity, in excellent keeping with their savage character; and to suspect Teddy Phats, was to suppose that an inveterate and incurable smuggler would inform upon him.

After a good deal of cogitation, he at length came to the conclusion that the school-master, Finigan, must have been the traitor, and with this impression he resolved to give that worthy personage a call upon his way home.

He found him as usual at full work, and as usual, also, in that state which is commonly termed half drunk, a state, by the way, in which the learned pedagogue generally contrived to keep himself night and day.

Hycy did not enter his establishment, but after having called him once or twice to no purpose--for such was the din of the school that his voice could not penetrate it--he at length knocked against the half open door, which caused him to be both seen and heard more distinctly.