Volume I Part 9 (1/2)

Thomas Emmett shook his head mournfully.

'We all know,' he said, 'that the cabinet rules the Viceroy, and that Lord Clare is master of the cabinet.'

'Seeing's believing,' retorted the giant doggedly, as he stretched out his great hand for the claret bottle. 'Of course we must watch that no such villain shall creep among us. I won't believe that the English are without mercy.'

'At the battle of Aughrim,' replied Thomas, 'the blood sank into the soil of seven thousand Irishmen who were only defending their rights.'

'As for drilling and such like,' said Ca.s.sidy, 'I'm with you, and the sooner we start the business the better. I've learnt a new song that we'll sing as we march to battle----'

'Oh, you simpleton!' laughed Terence Crosbie, who, slightly touched with wine, had followed the proceedings of the two Emmetts with amus.e.m.e.nt. 'Romancing as usual--giving credence to every scandalous tale you hear. Even if there were truth in them, your grievances would not give birth to generals. You will never make colonels out of linendrapers.'

'No more than purses out of sows' ears,' returned Ca.s.sidy, with a merry twinkle. 'No, councillor, that we never will. But we'll wheedle a few aristocrats like your honour, whose blue blood shall mingle with our muddy stuff. When the day dawns, you and a few like yourself shall lead the boys to victory.'

Terence looked annoyed, but said nothing; while Ca.s.sidy and the others scanned his face narrowly. He was not affiliated to the society, nor had the remotest ambition of becoming so; for he knew that it behoved not one of his order to join in such movements as this. Yet there was a fascination for him in its doings, which kept him dangling upon its outskirts. Some of his most valued friends were enrolled on the list of United Irishmen, and he knew well how Doreen was praying for their success. So he attended the supper-parties sometimes in his purposeless way, and they permitted him to do so freely, despite the maxim that in troublous times half-friends are no friends. They knew, or thought they knew, that he was the soul of honour, who would never betray a confidence; and hoped, encouraged by Ca.s.sidy, that some day he might be cajoled or stung into their ranks, which would be a feather in their cap indeed; for to be led by a Crosbie of Ennishowen would give them a prestige at once such as in these democratic days we can hardly realise. And Terence, seeing through the simple scheme (for he was sharp enough, though lazy), was flattered by their confidence.

Yet for all that he promised himself to hold aloof from active co-operation with hot-pated friends who made mountains out of mole-hills. He had no intention of heading the forlorn hope of a misguided rabblement who would fly helter-skelter before the first puff of cannon smoke. So he prudently refrained from picking up the gauntlet, and listened to the giant, who was delivered of an idea.

'I've a notion!' cried Ca.s.sidy, thumping the table till the gla.s.ses rang again.

'Be cool now!' cautioned Tom Emmett. 'You are as dangerous as a powder-magazine.'

'Is it dangerous I am?' grumbled the other. 'Sure something must be risked, or we'll niver get along. I've an idaya, gintlemen, which I'm willing to see to at my own expense, though a poor man. I've reason to know that the militia may be tampered with. Their hearts are with the cause, and they're as poor as rats or your humble servant. Money and drink will do much, and women will settle the matter. Here's a letter from Belfast which says that two hundred and fifty of the men in camp there have secretly declared for us, and that it only needs the personal presence of a delegate to bring over half the rest. When the French land they'll rise and kill their officers. Think of the fine fright that'll give the royalists! Sure and isn't that the way to out-plot England? Shall I go to Belfast and reconnoitre? Of coorse ye must give me credentials. A little note, signed, will do the trick, and show I'm honest. As for the town-major of whom ye're all so frightened, his bark's worse nor his bite. The Irish Jonathan Wild can be bribed. I'll answer for him; but there's time galore for that.

Dangerous, am I? I'm the only one, I think, with a drain of sperit.

There's a great speech. Phew, I'm dhry! Hand round the clart, boys, and we'll have a stave.'

The simple giant's harangue was favourably received, the paper was penned and signed, and he was wetting his whistle for a song when Tom Emmett raised his hand.

'Hark! who comes?'

There was a footstep on the creaking stair; then a knock; and a familiar voice said: 'It is I. Curran.'

'Nurse Curran!' sneered Ca.s.sidy, annoyed. 'Come to look after his foster-babby.'

The little advocate entered, and leaned against the door with his arms folded.

'Terence, my lad,' he said. 'You must come away with me. What would my lady say, if you came to be arrested?'

'Arrested!' echoed a dozen voices. 'Within Trinity? Impossible!'

'I fail to see that it's impossible,' snarled Curran. 'Hide those foolish papers there, or burn them--children, too easily beguiled with toys! And you, Terence, come away with me at once. Why? Are not convenient edicts being pa.s.sed each day to simplify the work of government? Laws for the suppression of gaming, profane swearing, atheistical a.s.semblies, which places every man's home under surveillance of the town-major?'

'You have explicit information?' inquired Tom Emmett, anxiously.

'I don't say that!' stammered Curran, somewhat confused. 'I only say that your threshold might be invaded at any moment, and that ye've yourselves to thank if ye get into a hopeless sc.r.a.pe. A few hours since, a carpenter who is under obligation to me was at work in Ely Place. While repairing the floor between two double doors he distinctly heard Lord Clare in conversation with the town-major, in which Sirr told his chief that there would be a strong muster to-night in this boy's chambers. Am I making too free in asking you to lock away those doc.u.ments, or would ye prefer hanging at once to save trouble? The carpenter wrenched off a hinge and begged to be allowed to fetch a new one; but instead of going straight to the ironmonger's he ran to me with commendable speed, gave the office, and returned to his work. What it all means I am not in a position to say; but mark my words, you have a traitor in your midst, who reports to the enemy every word you utter. Your necks are your own, to do with as you like; but I'm responsible for you, Terence, to your mother, and I summon you to go away with me.'

Tom Emmett flushed scarlet, and involuntarily placed a hand upon the pistol in his breast. A low murmur went round the room as Ca.s.sidy sprang to his feet.

'Take care!' he shouted, 'how ye bring vague charges. Many a disfigured corpse has Moiley eaten--many an informer has floated out to sea. Give a name--only a name--and I'll scrunch the spalpeen so flat that ye'll not know him from a sheet of paper, save for the coat on him!'

Curran shrugged his shoulders.

'Do you think if I knew the scoundrel I'd not have pointed at him long ago? It's for you to find him out. Don't glare at me, man--I'm not a youngster who has never blazed. Mind, I've warned you to be circ.u.mspect. The Irish nature is too open. It can't keep a secret without telling a lie, and lies lead to awful tangles. It's no affair of mine. Terence, come along.'