Part 28 (2/2)
”What's this you say your name is?”
”Rowland Drum, sir.”
”Rowland Drum! Well, now, Rowland Drum, are you well acquainted with the priests of this diocese?”
”No man better,” replied the redoubtable Rowland. ”I know most of them by person, and have got private descriptions of them all from Captain Smellpriest, which will be invaluable to you, Sir Robert. The fact is--and this I mention in the strictest confidence--that Smellpriest is suspicious of your attachment to our glorious Const.i.tution.”
”The confounded rascal,” replied the baronet. ”Did he ever burn as many Popish houses as I have done? He has no appet.i.te for any thing but the pursuit and capture of priests; but I have a far more general and unsparing practice, for I not only capture the priests, where I can, but every lay Papist that we suspect in the country. Here, for instance. Do you see those papers? They are blank warrants for the apprehension of the guilty and suspected, and also protections, transmitted to me from the Secretary of State, that I may be enabled, by his authority, to protect such Papists as will give useful information to the Government.
Here they are, signed by the Secretary, but the blanks are left for myself to fill up.”
”I wish we could get Reilly to come over,” said Mr. Drum.
”Oh! the infernal villain,” said the baronet, ”all the protections that ever were or could be issued from the Secretary's office would not nor could not save him. Old Folliard and I will hang him, if there was not another man to be hanged in the three kingdoms.”
At this moment a servant came in and said, ”Sir Robert, there is a woman her who wishes to have some private conversation with you.”
”What kind of a woman is she?” asked the baronet.
”Faith, your honor, a st.u.r.dy and strapping wench, somewhat rough, in the face, but of great proportions.”
Now it so happened that Mr. Drum had been sitting at the window during this brief conversation, and at once recognized, under the disguise of a woman, the celebrated informer, the Rev. Mr. Hennessy, a wretch whose criminal course of life, as we said before, was so gross and reprobate that his pious bishop deemed it his duty to suspend him from all clerical functions.
”Sir Robert,” said Drum, ”I must go up to my room and shave. My presence, I apprehend, won't be necessary where there is a lady in question.”
”Very well,” replied the baronet; ”I know not what her business may be; but I shall be glad to speak with you after she shall have gone.”
It was very well that Hennessy did not see Drum, whom he would at once have recognized; but, at all events, the interview between the reprobate priest and the baronet lasted for at least an hour.
After the Rev. Miss Hennessy had taken her departure, Mr. Drum was sent for by the baronet, whom he still found in the breakfast parlor.
”Drum,” said he, ”you have now an opportunity of essentially serving not only me, but the Government of the country. This lady turns out to be a Popish priest in disguise, and I have taken him into my confidence as a guide and auxiliary. Now you have given me proofs of personal attachment, which is certainly more than he has done as yet. I have heard of his character as an immoral priest; and the man who could be false to his own creed is not a man to be relied upon. He has described to me the position of a cavern, in which are now hiding a set of proscribed priests; but I cannot have confidence in his information, and I wish you to go to the ravine or cavern, or whatever the devil it is, and return to me with correct intelligence. It may be a lure to draw me into danger, or perhaps to deprive me of my life; but, on second thought, I think I shall get a military force, and go myself.”
”And perhaps never return, unless with your heels foremost, Sir Robert.
I tell you that this Hennessy is the most treacherous scoundrel on the face of the earth. You do not know what he's at, but I will tell you, for I have it from his own cousin. His object is to have you a.s.sa.s.sinated, in order to restore himself to the good graces of the bishop and the Catholic party, who, I must say, however, would not countenance such a murderous act; still, Sir Robert, if you were taken off, the man who took you off would have his name honored and exalted throughout the country.”
”Yes, I believe you are right, Drum; they are thirsting for my blood, but not more than I am thirsting for theirs.”
”Well, then,” said Drum, ”don't trust yourself to the counsels of this Hennessy, who, in my opinion, only wants to make a scapegoat of you.
Allow me to go to the place he mentions, for I know the ravine well, but I never knew nor do I believe that there is a cavern at all in it, and that is what makes me suspect the scoundrel's motives. He can have hundreds of outlaws secretly armed, who would never suffer you to escape with your life. The thing is an ambuscade; take my word for it, it is nothing less. Of course you can go, yourself and your party, if you wish. You will prevent me from running a great risk; but I am only anxious for your safety.”
”Well, then,” said Sir Robert, ”you shall go upon this mission. It may not be safe for me to do so. Try if you can make out this cavern, if there be a cavern.”
”I will try, Sir Robert; and I will venture to say, that if it can be made out, I will make 't out.” Rowland Drum accordingly set out upon his mission, and having arrived at the cavern, with which he was so well acquainted, he entered it with the usual risk. His voice, however, was recognized, and he got instant admittance.
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