Part 19 (1/2)

”And yet, sir, the fact is so, whether I speak it or not,” said f.a.gan.

”Once let this affair come before a public tribunal, and what is there that can be held back from the prying impertinence of the world? And I see no more reason why you should peril life than risk all that makes life desirable.”

”But what or where is all this peril, f.a.gan? You talk as if I had been committing a murder.”

”It is precisely the name they would give it in the indictment, sir,”

said the other, boldly. ”Nay, hear me out, Mr. Carew. Were I to tell the adventure of last night as the bare facts reveal it, who would suggest the possibility of its being a duel? Think of the place--the hour--the solitude--the mere accident of the meeting! Oh, no, sir; duels are not fought in this fas.h.i.+on.”

”You are arguing against yourself, Tony. You have convinced me that there is but one course open. I must surrender myself!”

”Think well of it first, Mr. Carew,” said f.a.gan, drawing his chair closer, and speaking in a lower tone. ”We must not let any false delicacy deceive us. There never was a case of this kind yet that did not less depend upon its own merits than on fifty things over which one has no control. The temper of the judge--the rank in life of the jury--the accidental tone of public opinion at the moment--the bias of the press: these are the agencies to be thought of. When Grogan Hamilton was tried for shooting John Adair in the mess-room at Carlow, his verdict was p.r.o.nounced before the jury was empanelled!”

”I never heard of that case,” said my father, anxiously.

”It occurred when you were a boy at school, sir; and although the facts would not read so condemnatory now, at that time there was not one voice to be heard on the side of mercy. The duel, if duel it could be called, took place after every one, save themselves, had left the table. The quarrel was an old grudge revived over the bottle. They fought without witnesses and with Heaven knows what inequality of weapons; and although Hamilton gave himself up----”

”He gave himself up?” interrupted my father.

”Yes, sir; in direct opposition to his friends' advice, he did so: but had he followed a different course,--had he even waited till the excitement had calmed down a little, till men began to talk more dispa.s.sionately on the subject, the result might have been different.”

”And what was the result?”

”I have already told you, sir,--a conviction.”

”And what followed?”

”He was hanged,--hanged in front of the old jail at Naas, where the regiment he once had served in was quartered. I don't know how or why this was done. Some said it was to show the people that there was no favoritism towards a man of rank and fortune. Some alleged it was to spare the feelings of his relatives, who were Carlow people.”

”Good Heavens!” exclaimed my father, pa.s.sionately; ”was there ever such an infamy!”

”The event happened as I tell you, sir. I believe I have the trial in the house; if I have not, Crowther will have it, for he was engaged in the defence, and one of those who endeavored to dissuade Hamilton from his resolution of surrender.”

”And who is Crowther?”

”A solicitor, sir, of great practice and experience.”

”In whom you have confidence, f.a.gan?”

”The most implicit confidence.”

”And who could be useful to us in this affair?”

”Of the very greatest utility, sir,--not alone from his legal knowledge, but from his consummate acquaintance with the world and its modes of thinking.”

”Can you send for him? Can you get him here without exciting suspicion?”

said my father; for already had terror seized hold on him, and even before he knew it was he entangled in the toils.

”I can have him here within an hour, sir, and without any risk whatever; for he is my own law adviser, and in constant intercourse with me.”