CHAPTER XIX. A DAY OF EXCITEMENT
Great was the Knight's astonishment, and not less his satisfaction,as he entered the breakfast-room the morning after his dinner with theSecretary, to find Bagenal Daly there before him. They met with allthe cordial warmth of men whose friendship had continued withoutinterruption for nigh half a century; each well disposed to prize goodfaith and integrity at a time when so many lapsed from the path of honorand principle.
"Well, Darcy," cried Daly, the first greetings over, "there is littlehope left us; that rascally newspaper already proclaims the triumph,--amajority of twenty-eight."
"They calculate on many more; you remember what old Hayes, of theRecruiting Staff, used to say: 'There was no getting fellows to enlistwhen the bounty was high; make it half-a-crown,' said he, 'and I 'llraise a battalion in a fortnight.'"
"Is Castlereagh adopting the policy?"
"Yes, and with infinite success! Some that held out for English Peeragesare fain to take Irish Baronetcies, expectant Bishops put up withDeaneries, and an acquaintance of ours, that would take nothing belowa separate command, is now satisfied to make his son a clerk in the WarOffice."
"I 'm sorry for it," said Daly, as he arose and paced the room backwardsand forwards, "sincerely sorry. I had fostered the hope that if theysucceeded in corrupting _our_ gentry, they had polluted _their own_Peerage. I wish every fellow had been bought by an Earldom at least. Iwould like to think that this Judas Peerage might become a jest and ascoff among their order."
"Have no such expectation, Bagenal," said the Knight, reflectively;"their origin will be forgiven before the first generation dies out.To all purposes of worldly respect and esteem, they 'll be as high andmighty Lords as the best blood of all the Howards. The penalty will fallupon England in another form."
"How? Where?"
"In the Lower House, politics will become a trade to live by, and theIrish party, with such an admirable market for grievances, will be astrong and compact body in Parliament, too numerous to be bought byanything save great concessions. Englishmen will never understand thetruth of the condition of the country from these men, nor how littlepersonal importance they possess at home. They will be regarded as theexponents of Irish opinion; they will browbeat, denounce, threaten,fawn, and flatter by turns; and Ireland, instead of being easier togovern, will be rendered ten times more difficult, by all the obscuringinfluences of falsehood and misrepresentation. But let us quit thetheme. How have you left all at the Abbey?"
"Well and happy; here are my despatches." And he laid on the tableseveral letters, the first the Knight had received since his arrival,save a few hurried lines from Lady Eleanor. Darcy broke the envelopes,and skimmed the contents of each.
"How good!" cried he, handing Lord Netherby's letter across the table;"this is really amusing!"
"I have seen it," said Daly, dryly. "Lady Eleanor asked my opinion as towhat answer she should make."
"Insolent old miser!" broke in Darcy, who, without attending to Daly'sremark, had been reading Lady Eleanor's account of Dr. Hickman'sproposal. "I say, Bagenal, you 'll not believe this. What socialearthquakes are we to look for next? Read that." And with a tremblinghand he presented the letter to Daly.
If the Knight's passion had been more openly displayed, Daly'sindignation seemed to evoke deeper emotion, for his brows met, and hisstern lips were clenched, as he perused the lines.
"Darcy," said he, at length, "O'Reilly must apologize for this; he mustbe made to disavow any share in the old man's impertinence--"
"No, no," interrupted Darcy, "never speak of it again; rest assured thatLady Eleanor received the offer suitably. The best thing we can do is toforget it. If," added he, after a pause, "the daring that prompted sucha proposition has not a deeper foundation than mere presumption. Youknow these Hickmans have purchased up my bonds and other securities?"
"I heard as much."
"Well, Gleeson is making arrangements for the payment. One large sum,something like L20,000--"
"Was paid the day before yesterday," said Daly; "here is a memorandum ofthe moneys."
"How the deuce came you by the information? I have heard nothing of ityet."
"That entails somewhat of a story," said Daly; "but I 'll be brief withit." And in a few words he narrated his meeting with the robber Freney,and how he had availed himself of his hospitality and safe convoy as faras Maynooth.
"Ireland forever!" said the Knight, in a burst of happy laughter; "forevery species of incongruity, where was ever its equal? An independentmember of the Legislature sups with a highwayman, and takes a loan ofhis hackney!"
"Ay, faith," said Daly, joining in the laugh; "and had I not been oneof the Opposition, I had been worth robbing, and consequently not socivilly treated. By Jove! Darcy, I felt an evening with Freney to bea devilish good preparation for the company I should be keeping up intown."
"I'll wager ten pounds you talked politics together."
"That we did, and he is as stout an Anti-Unionist as the best ofus, though he told me he signed a petition in favor of the Bill whenconfined in Clonmel jail."
"Is that true, Bagenal? did they hawk a petition for signature among theprisoners of a jail?"
"He took his oath of it to me, and I intend to declare it in the House."
"What if asked for your authority?"
"I 'll give it," said Daly, determinedly. "Ay, faith, and if I catch asneer or a scoff amongst them, I 'll tell them that a highwayman isabout as respectable and somewhat more courageous than a bribedrepresentative."
If the Knight enjoyed the absurdity of Daly's supper with the notedFreney, he laughed till the tears came at the account of his dining withCon Heffernan. Darcy could appreciate the dismay of Heffernan, and thecool, imperturbable tyranny of Daly's manner throughout, and would havegiven largely to have witnessed the _tete-a-tete_.
"I will do him the justice to say," said Daly, "that when he foundescape impossible, he behaved as well as any man, his conversation waseasy and unaffected, and his manner perfectly well-bred. Freney was moreanecdotic, but Heffernan saw deeper into mankind."
"I hope you hinted the comparison?" said Darcy, slyly.
"Yes, I observed upon the superiority practical men possess in allthe relations of social intercourse, and quoted Freney and himself asinstances!"
"And he took it well?"
"Admirably. Once, and only once, did he show a little disposition toturn restive; it was when I remarked upon the discrepancy in point ofdestiny, the one being employed to empty, the other to fill, the pocketsof his Majesty's lieges. He winced, but it was over in a second. Histime was up at ten o'clock, but we sat chatting till near twelve, andwe parted with what the French term a 'sense of the most distinguishedconsideration' on each side."
"By Jove! I envy the fellows who sat at the other tables and saw you."
"They were most discreet in their observations," remarked Daly,significantly. "One young fellow, it is true, coughed twice or thrice asa signal to a friend across the room, but I ordered the waiter to bringme a plate, and, taking three or four bullets out of my pocket, sentthem over to him, with my respectful compliments, as 'admirable pillsfor a cough.' The cure was miraculous."
"Excellent! Men have taken out a patent for a poorer remedy. And now,Bagenal, for the reason of your journey. What, in the name of everythingstrange and eccentric, brought you up to town? Don't affect to tell meyou came for the debate."
"And why not?" said Daly, who, unwilling to reveal the true cause,preferred to do battle on this pretence. "I admit as freely as ever Idid, I'm no lover of Parliament. I have slight respect or esteemfor deliberative assemblies split up into factions and parties. AGovernment, to my thinking, should represent unity as the chief elementof strength; but such as it is,--bad enough and base enough, in allconscience,--yet it is the last remnant of national power left, thefrail barrier between us and downright provincialism. But I had anotherreason for coming up,--half-a-dozen other reasons, for that matter,--oneof them was, to s
ee your invaluable business man, Gleeson, who, fromsome caprice or other about a higher rate of interest, has withdrawnmy sister's fortune from the funds to invest it in some confoundedmortgage. I suppose it's all right, and judicious to boot; but Maria,like every other Daly I ever heard of, has a will of her own, and hascommissioned me to have the money restored to its former destination.I verily believe, Darcy, the most troublesome animal on the face ofthe globe is an old maid with a small funded capital. At one momentdeploring the low rate of interest and dying for a more profitableuse of the money; at another, decrying all deposit save the Bank,she inveighs against public theft and private credit, and takes offthree-and-a-half per cent of her happiness in pure fretting."
"Is she quite well?" said the Knight, in an accent which a more shrewdobserver than Daly might have perceived was marked by some agitation.
"I never knew her better; as fearless as we both remember her atsixteen; and, save those strange intervals of depression she has laboredunder all through her life, the same gay-hearted spirit she was when theflattered heiress and beauty long, long years ago."
The Knight heaved a sigh. It might have been for the years thus passed,the pleasant days of early youth and manhood so suddenly called upbefore him; it might have been that other and more tender memorieswere crowding on his mind; but he turned away, and leaned on thechimney-piece, lost in deep thought.
"Poor girl," said Daly, "there is no question of it, Darcy, but she musthave formed some unfortunate attachment; she had pride enough always torescue her from the dangers of an unsuitable marriage, but her heart, Ifeel convinced, was touched, and yet I never could find a clew to it. Isuspected something of the kind when she refused Donington,--ahandsome fellow, and an old title. I pressed her myself on thesubject,--it was the only time I did so,--and I guessed at once, froma chance phrase she dropped, that there had been an old attachmentsomewhere. Well, well, what a lesson might be read from both ourfortunes! The beauty--and you remember how handsome she was--the beautywith a splendid fortune, a reduced maiden lady; and myself"--he heaveda heavy sigh, and, with clasped hands, sat back in the chair, as headded--"the shattered wreck of every hope I once set out with."
The two old men's eyes met, and, although undesignedly, exchanged looksof deepest, most affectionate interest. Daly was the first to rally fromhis brief access of despondency, and he did so with the physical efforthe would have used to shake a load from his shoulders.
"Well, Darcy, let us be up and stirring; there's a meeting atBarrington's at two: we must not fail to be there."
"I wish to see Gleeson in the mean while," said the Knight; "I am uneasyto learn what has been done with Hickman, and what day I can leavetown."
"Send Sandy out with a note, and tell him to come to dinner here atsix."
"Agreed; nothing could be better; we can talk over our business matterscomfortably, and be down at the House by nine or ten."
The note was soon written, and Sandy despatched, with orders to wait forGleeson's return, in case he should be absent when he arrived.
The day for the evening of which was fixed the second reading of theBill of Union, was a busy one in Dublin. Accounts the most opposite andcontradictory were everywhere in circulation: some asserting that theMinisterial majority was certain; others, equally positive, allegingthat many of their supposed supporters had lapsed in their allegiance,and that the most enormous offers had been made, without success, toparties hitherto believed amongst the ranks of the Government. Thestreets were crowded, not by persons engaged in the usual affairs oftrade and traffic, but by groups and knots talking eagerly overthe coming event, and discussing every rumor that chance or scandalsuggested.
Various meetings were held in different parts of the town: at some,the Government party were canvassing the modes of reaching the Housein safety, and how best they might escape the violence of the mob; atothers, the Opposition deliberated on the prospects before them, and bywhat stratagems the debate might be prolonged till the period when, theWicklow election over, Mr. Grattan might be expected to take his seatin the House, since, by a trick of "the Castle party," the writ had beendelayed to that very morning.
Con Heffernan's carriage was seen everywhere, and some avowed that atfive o'clock he was driving with the third pair of posters he had thatday employed. Bagenal Daly was also a conspicuous character "on town;"on foot and alone, he was at once recognized by the mob, who cheered himas an old but long-lost-sight-of acquaintance. The densest crowd madeway for him as he came, and every mark of respect was shown him by thosewho set a higher price on his eccentricity and daring than even upon hispatriotism; and a murmuring commentary on his character followed him ashe went.
"By my conscience! it 's well for them they have n't to fight for theUnion, or they would n't like old Bagenal Daly agin them!"
"He looks as fresh and bould as ever he did," said another; "sorra a dayoulder than he was twenty-eight years ago, when I seen him tried for hislife at Newgate."
"Was you there, Mickey?" cried two or three in a breath.
"Faix was I, as near as I am to you. 'Twas a coal-heaver he kilt, achap that was called Big Sam; and they say he was bribed by some of thegentlemen at Daly's Club House to come up to Bagenal Daly in the streetand insult him about the beard he wears on his upper lip, and sureenough so he did,--it was Ash Wednesday mor by token,--and Sam had asmut on his face just to imitat(e) Mr. Daly's. 'We are a purty pair,ain't we?' says Sam, grinning at him, when they met on Essex Bridge. Andwid that he slips his arm inside Mr. Daly's to hook wid his."
"To walk beside him, is't?"
"Just so, divil a less. 'Come round to the other side of me,' says Daly,'for I want to step into Kertland's shop.' And in they went together,and Daly asks for a pound of strong white soap, and pays downone-and-eight-pence for it, and out they comes again quite friendlyas before. 'Where to now?' says Sam, for he held a grip of him likea bailiff. 'Across the bridge,' says Daly; and so it was. When theyreached the middle arch of the bridge, Daly made a spring and gothimself free, and then, stooping down, caught Sam by the knees, andbefore you could say 'Jack Robinson,' hurled him over the battlementsinto the Liffey. 'You can wash your face now,' says he, and he threw thesoap after him; divil a word more he said, but walked on, as cool as yousaw him there."
"And Sam?" said several together.
"Sam was drowned; there came a fresh in the river, and they took him upbeyond the North Wall--a corpse."
"Millia murther! what did Daly do?"
"He took his trial for it, and sorra excuse he gave one way or other,but that he 'did n't know the blackguard couldn't swim.'"
"And they let him off?"
"Let him off? Arrah, is it hang a gentleman?"
"True for you," chimed in the bystanders; "them that makes the lawsknows better than that!"
Such was one of the narratives his reappearance in Dublin again broughtup; and, singular enough, by the respect shown him by the mob, derivedmuch of its source in that same feeling of awe and dread they manifestedtowards one they believed privileged to do whatever he pleased. Alasfor human nature! the qualities which find favor with the multitude arenever the finer and better traits of the heart, but rather the sternerfeatures that emanate from a strong will and firm purpose.
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If the voices of the closely compacted mass which filled the streets andavenues of Dublin on that day could have been taken, it would have beenfound that Bagenal Daly had an overwhelming majority; while, on aconverse scrutiny, it would appear that not a gentleman in Irelandentertained for that mob sentiments of such thorough contempt as he did.Nor was the sentiment concealed by him. The crowd which, growing as itwent, followed him from place to place throughout the city, would breakforth at intervals into some spontaneous shout of admiration, and acheer for Bagenal Daly, commanded by some deep throat, would be answeredin a deafening roar of voices. Then would Daly turn, and, as the movingmass fell back, scowl upon their unwashed faces with such a look ofscorn that even they half felt the insu
lt. In such wise was his progressthrough the streets of Dublin, now moving slowly onward, now turning toconfront the mob that in slavish adulation still tracked his steps.
It was at a moment like this, when, standing at bay, he scowled upon thedense throng, Heffernan's carriage drove slowly past, and Con, leaningfrom the window, called out in a dramatic tone, "Thy friends, SicciusDentatus, thy friends!"
Daly started, and as his cheek reddened, answered, "Ay, and by my soul,for the turning of a straw, I 'd make them your enemies." And as ifresponsive to the threat, a groan for "the Castle hack, three groans forCon Heffernan," were shouted out in tones that shook the street. Fora second or two Daly's face brightened, and his eyes sparkled with thefire of enterprise, and he gazed on the countless mass with a look ofindecision; but, suddenly folding his arms, he dropped his head, andmuttered, "No, no, it would n't do; robbery and pillage would bethe whole of it;" and, without raising his eyes again, walked slowlyhomewards.
The hours wore on, and six o'clock came, but no sign of Gleeson, nor hadSandy returned with any answer.
"And yet I am positive he is not from home," said Darcy. "He pledgedhimself not to leave this until the whole business was completed. HonestTom Gleeson is a man to keep to the strictest letter of his word."
"I 'd not think that less likely," said Daly, sententiously, "if theworld had spared him the epithet. I hate the cant of calling a manby some title that should be common to all men,--at least, to allgentlemen."
"I cannot agree with you," said Darcy. "I deem it a proud thing for anyone so to have impressed his reputation for honorable dealing on societythat the very mention of his name suggests his character."
"Perhaps I am soured by what we have seen around us," said Daly; "butthe mention of every virtue latterly has been generally followed by theannouncement of the purchase of its possessor. I never hear of agood character that I don't think it is a puffing advertisement of 'ahigh-priced article to be had cheap for cash.'"
"You'll think better of the world after a glass or two of Madeira," saidDarcy, laughing; "and rather than hear you inveigh against mankind, I'lllet Gleeson eat his soup cold." And, so saying, he rang the bell andordered dinner.
The two friends dined pleasantly, and although, from time to time, somestray thought of Gleeson's absence would obtrude, they chatted awayagreeably till past nine o'clock.
"I begin to suspect that Sandy may have met some acquaintance, andlingered to pledge 'old times' with him," said Darcy, looking at hiswatch. "It is now nearly twenty minutes past nine."
"I'll stake my life on it, Sandy is true to his mission. He'd not turnfrom the duty intrusted to him to hobnob with a Prince of the Blood.Here he comes, however; there was a knock at the door."
But no; it was a few hurried lines in pencil from the House, beggingof them to come up at once, as the Ministerial party was musteringin strength, and the Opposition benches filling but slowly. Whiledeliberating on what course to take, a second summons came from one ofthe leading men of the party. It was brief, but significant: "Come upquickly. They are evidently pushed hard. Toler has sent a message toO'Donnell, and they are gone out, and Harvey says Castlereagh has six ofhis fellows ready to provoke us.--W. T."
"That looks like business, Darcy," cried Daly, in a transport ofdelight. "Let us lose no time; there's no knowing how soon so much goodvalor may ooze out."
"But Gleeson--"
"If he comes, let him follow us to the House. We can walk; there's nouse waiting for the carriage." Then added, in a mutter to himself, "I 'dgive a hundred down to have a shot at the Attorney-General. There,that 's Sandy's voice in the hall;" and at the same instant the trustyservant entered.
"Well, have you seen him?"
"Is he at home?"
"No, sirs, he's no at hame, that's clear. When I asked for him, theytold me he was in bed, asleep, for that he was just arrived after along journey; and so I waited a bit, and gaed out for a walk into theshrubberies, where I could have a look at his chamber windows, and sureenough they were a' closed. I waited a while longer, but he was stillsleeping, and they dared na wake him; and so it came to nigh fiveo'clock, and then I was fain to send up the bit letter by the flunkie,and ask for the answer; but none came."
"Did you say that the letter was from me?" said the Knight, hastily.
"Na, sir; but I tauld them what most people mind as well, that MisterBagenal Daly sent me. It's a name few folk are fond to trifle wi'."
"Go on, Sandy," said Daly, "What then?"
"Weel, sir, I sat down on the stair at the foot of the big clock, andsaid to mysel, 'I 'll gie ye ten minutes mair, but not a second after.'And sure enough ye might hear every tick of her through the house, a'was so still and silent. Short as the time was, I thought it wad nevergae past, for I did no tak my eyes aff o' her face. When the ten minuteswas up, I stole gently up the stair, and opened the door. A was darkinside, so I opened the window, and there was the bed--empty; nobodyhad lain in it syne it was made. There was a bit ashes in the grate,and some burned paper on the hearth, but na other sign that onybodywas there at a', sae I crept back again, and met the flunkie as he wascoming up, for he had just missed me, and was in a real fright where Iwas gone to. I saw by his face that he was found out, and so I laid myhand on his shoulder, and said, 'Ye ha tauld me ane lee; ye maun takcare no to tell me anither. Where is yer maister?' Then came out thetruth. Mr. Gleeson was gane awa to England. He sailed for Liverpool inthe 'Shamrock.'"
"Impossible!" said Darcy. "He could not be away from Dublin at thismoment."
"It's even sae," replied Sandy, gravely; "for when I heard a' that Icould from the flunkie, I put him into the library, and locked the dooron him, and then went round to the stable-yard, where the coachman wassitting in the harness-room, smoking. 'And so he's off to England,' saidI to him, as if I kenned it a'.
"'Just sae,' said he, wi' the pipe in his mouth. "'And he's nae to beback for some time,' said I, speerin' at him.
"'On Friday,' said he; and he smoked away, and never a word mair could Iget out o' him."
"Why, Sandy," said the Knight, laughing, "they'd make you a prefect ofpolice if they had you in France."
"I dinna ken, sir," said Sandy, not exactly appreciating what the natureof the appointment might portend.
"I only hope Gleeson may not hear of the perquisition on his return,"said the Knight, in a whisper to Daly. "Our friend Sandy pushes hisspirit of inquiry somewhat far."
"I don't know that," said Daly, thoughtfully; "he's a shrewd fellow,and rarely makes a mistake of that kind. But come, let us lose no moretime."
"I half suspect the reason of this mystery about Gleeson," said theKnight, who stood musing deeply on the event; "a few words Drogheda letfall yesterday, going in to dinner,--some unfortunate speculation inSouth America: this may require his keeping out of the way for a littletime. But why not say so, manfully?--I'm sure I'm ready to assist him."
"Come along, Darcy, we must walk; they say no carriage can get throughthe mob." And, with these words, he took the Knight's arm and salliedforth, while Sandy followed, conveying a large cloth cloak over his arm,which only partially concealed an ominous-looking box of mahogany wood,strapped with brass.
A crowd awaited them as they reached the street, by which they wereescorted through the denser mass that thronged the great thoroughfare,the mere mention of their names being sufficient to force a passage evenwhere the mob stood thickest.
The space in front of the Parliament House and before the College wasfilled with soldiers; while patrols of cavalry traversed every avenueleading to it, for information had reached the Government that violencemight be apprehended from a mob whose force and numbers were alludedto by members within the House in terms meant to intimidate, while thepresence of the soldiery was retorted by the Opposition as a measure oftyranny and oppression of the Castle party. Brushing somewhat roughlythrough the armed line, Daly, with the Knight beside him, entered thespace, and was passing onward, when a bustle and a confused uproarbehind him arr
ested his steps. Believing that it might be to Sandy'sprogress some objection was offered, Daly wheeled round, when he saw twopolicemen in the act of dragging away a boy, whose loud cries for helpfrom the mob were incessant, while he mingled the name of Mr. Dalythrough his entreaties.
"What is it?" said Daly. "Does the fellow want me?"
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"Never mind him," said Darcy; "the boy has caught up your name, andthat's all."
But the urchin struggled and kicked with all his might; and, althoughoverpowered by superior strength, gave battle to the last, screaming atthe top of his voice, "One word with Mr. Daly,--just one word!"
Bagenal Daly turned back, and, approaching the scene of contest, said,"Have you anything to say to me? I am Mr. Daly."
"If they 'd let me go my hands, I 've something to give you," said theboy, who, although sorely bruised and beaten, seemed to care less forhis own troubles than for the object of his enterprise.
At a word from Daly, the policemen relinquished their hold, and stoodguard on either side, while the boy, giving himself a shake, leered upin Daly's face with an expression he could not fail to recognize.
"There's a way to treat a young gentleman at home for the Christmasholidays!" said the imp, with a compassionate glance at his torn andtattered garments, while the words and the tone they were uttered insent a shout of laughter through the mob.
"What, Jemmy!" said Daly, stooping down and accosting him in a whisper,for it was no other than that reputable youth himself, "you here?"
"Just so, sir. Ain't I in a nice way to appear at the Privy Council?"
The police were growing impatient at the continued insolence ofthe fellow, and were about to lay hold on him once more, when Dalyinterposed, and said, in a still lower voice, "Have you anything to tellme?"
"I 've a bit of paper for you somewhere, from one you know, if themblackguards the 'polis' has not made me lose it."
"Be quick, then," said Daly, "and see after it." For Darcy was chafed ata delay he could not see any reason for.
"Here it is," said the imp, taking a piece of dirty and crumpled paperfrom the lining of his hat; "there, you have it now safe and sure. Givemy best respects to Alderman Darby," added he to the police; "say I wastoo hurried to call;" and with that he dived between the legs of one ofthem, dashed through the line of soldiers, and was speedily concealedamong the dense crowd outside, where shouts of approving laughterwelcomed him.
"A rendezvous or a challenge, Bagenal,--which?" said the Knight,laughing, as Daly stood endeavoring, by the light of a lamp in thecorridor, to decipher the torn scrawl.
The other made no reply, but, holding the paper close to his eyes, stoodsilent and motionless. At last an expression of impatient anger burstfrom him: "That imp of h--ll has almost effaced the words,--I cannotmake them out!" Then he added, in a low muttering, "I trust in Heaven Ihave not read them aright. Come here, Darcy." And, so saying, he graspedthe Knight's hand, and led him along to one of the many small chambersused as offices of the House.
"Ah! they're looking anxiously out for you, sir," said a young man whostood with his back to the fire, reading a paper. "Mr. Ponsonby has justbeen here."
"Leave us together here for a few minutes," said Daly, "and let therebe no interruption." And as he spoke, he motioned to the door with agesture there was no mistaking. The clerk left the room, and they werealone.
"Maurice Darcy," said Daly, as he turned the key in the lock, "you havea stout heart and a courage I never saw fail, and you need both at thismoment."
"What is it, Bagenal?" gasped the Knight, as a most deadly pallorcovered his face. "Is my wife--are my children--"
"No, no; be calm, Darcy, they are all well."
"Go on, then," cried he, with a firmer voice; "I'll listen to youpatiently."
"Read that," said Daly, as he held the paper near the candle; andthe Knight read aloud: "'Honored Sir,--I saw the other night you weretroubled when I spoke of Gleeson, and I take the occasion of--'""'warning you,' I think the words are," broke in Daly.
"So it is:--'warning you honest Tom is away to America!'" The paper fellfrom Darcy's hand, and he staggered back into a seat.
"With they say above a hundred thousand pounds, Darcy," continued Daly,taking up the fragment. "If the news be true--"
"If so, I'm ruined; he received the whole loan on Saturday last,--hecould not delay Hickman's payment beyond Wednesday without suspicion."
"Ah! I see it all, and the American packet does not sail till to-morrowmorning from Liverpool."
"But it may all be false," said Darcy. "Who writes you this story?"
"It is signed 'F.,' and Freney is the man; I know the fellow thatbrought it."
"I 'll not believe a word of it, Bagenal," said the Knight, impetuously."I 'll not credit the calumny of a highwayman against the honor of one Ihave known and respected for years. It is false, depend upon it."
"Yet how it tallies with Sandy's tidings; there is something in it.Hush! Darcy, don't speak; there is some one passing."
The sounds of feet and voices were heard at the same instant without,and among them the clear, distinctive accents of Hickman O'Reilly.
"Yes," said he, "if the news had come a little earlier, LordCastlereagh, would have found some of our patriots less stern in virtue.Gleeson will have carried away half a province with him."
"There," whispered Daly, "you heard that,--the news is about already."
But Darcy was now totally overcome, and, with his head resting on thetable, neither spoke nor stirred. "Bagenal," said he, at length, but ina voice faint as a whisper, "I am too ill to face the House; let us turnhomewards."
"I 'll see for a carriage," said Daly, who issued forth to take thefirst he could find.
"I say, Hamilton," cried a member, as he alighted from his chariot,"there's the Knight of Gwynne and Bagenal Daly in Castlereagh'scarriage."
"Daly said he could drive a coach-and-six through the Bill!" replied theother; "perhaps he's gone to practise with a pair first."