"Why, Sandy," said the Knight, laughing, "they'd make you a prefect of police if they had you in France."

"I dinna ken, sir," said Sandy, not exactly appreciating what the nature of 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 his spirit 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 more time."

"I half suspect the reason of this mystery about Gleeson," said the Knight, who stood musing deeply on the event; "a few words Drogheda let fall yesterday, going in to dinner,--some unfortunate speculation in South America: this may require his keeping out of the way for a little time. But why not say so, manfully?--I'm sure I'm ready to a.s.sist him."

"Come along, Darcy, we must walk; they say no carriage can get through the mob." And, with these words, he took the Knight's arm and sallied forth, while Sandy followed, conveying a large cloth cloak over his arm, which only partially concealed an ominous-looking box of mahogany wood, strapped with bra.s.s.

A crowd awaited them as they reached the street, by which they were escorted through the denser ma.s.s that thronged the great thoroughfare, the mere mention of their names being sufficient to force a pa.s.sage even where the mob stood thickest.

The s.p.a.ce in front of the Parliament House and before the College was filled with soldiers; while patrols of cavalry traversed every avenue leading to it, for information had reached the Government that violence might be apprehended from a mob whose force and numbers were alluded to by members within the House in terms meant to intimidate, while the presence of the soldiery was retorted by the Opposition as a measure of tyranny and oppression of the Castle party. Brushing somewhat roughly through the armed line, Daly, with the Knight beside him, entered the s.p.a.ce, and was pa.s.sing onward, when a bustle and a confused uproar behind him arrested his steps. Believing that it might be to Sandy's progress some objection was offered, Daly wheeled round, when he saw two policemen in the act of dragging away a boy, whose loud cries for help from the mob were incessant, while he mingled the name of Mr. Daly through his entreaties.

"What is it?" said Daly. "Does the fellow want me?"

[Ill.u.s.tration: 234]

"Never mind him," said Darcy; "the boy has caught up your name, and that's all."

But the urchin struggled and kicked with all his might; and, although overpowered by superior strength, gave battle to the last, screaming at the 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 the boy, who, although sorely bruised and beaten, seemed to care less for his own troubles than for the object of his enterprise.

At a word from Daly, the policemen relinquished their hold, and stood guard on either side, while the boy, giving himself a shake, leered up in 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 Christmas holidays!" said the imp, with a compa.s.sionate glance at his torn and tattered garments, while the words and the tone they were uttered in sent 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 of the fellow, and were about to lay hold on him once more, when Daly interposed, and said, in a still lower voice, "Have you anything to tell me?"

"I 've a bit of paper for you somewhere, from one you know, if them blackguards the 'polis' has not made me lose it."

"Be quick, then," said Daly, "and see after it." For Darcy was chafed at a delay he could not see any reason for.

"Here it is," said the imp, taking a piece of dirty and crumpled paper from the lining of his hat; "there, you have it now safe and sure. Give my best respects to Alderman Darby," added he to the police; "say I was too hurried to call;" and with that he dived between the legs of one of them, dashed through the line of soldiers, and was speedily concealed among the dense crowd outside, where shouts of approving laughter welcomed him.

"A rendezvous or a challenge, Bagenal,--which?" said the Knight, laughing, as Daly stood endeavoring, by the light of a lamp in the corridor, to decipher the torn scrawl.

The other made no reply, but, holding the paper close to his eyes, stood silent and motionless. At last an expression of impatient anger burst from him: "That imp of h--ll has almost effaced the words,--I cannot make them out!" Then he added, in a low muttering, "I trust in Heaven I have not read them aright. Come here, Darcy." And, so saying, he grasped the Knight's hand, and led him along to one of the many small chambers used as offices of the House.

"Ah! they're looking anxiously out for you, sir," said a young man who stood with his back to the fire, reading a paper. "Mr. Ponsonby has just been here."

"Leave us together here for a few minutes," said Daly, "and let there be no interruption." And as he spoke, he motioned to the door with a gesture there was no mistaking. The clerk left the room, and they were alone.

"Maurice Darcy," said Daly, as he turned the key in the lock, "you have a stout heart and a courage I never saw fail, and you need both at this moment."

"What is it, Bagenal?" gasped the Knight, as a most deadly pallor covered 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 you patiently."

"Read that," said Daly, as he held the paper near the candle; and the Knight read aloud: "'Honored Sir,--I saw the other night you were troubled 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 fell from 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 Sat.u.r.day last,--he could not delay Hickman's payment beyond Wednesday without suspicion."

"Ah! I see it all, and the American packet does not sail till to-morrow morning 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 that brought 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 I have 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 pa.s.sing."

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, Lord Castlereagh, 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 the table, neither spoke nor stirred. "Bagenal," said he, at length, but in a voice faint as a whisper, "I am too ill to face the House; let us turn homewards."

"I 'll see for a carriage," said Daly, who issued forth to take the first 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's carriage."

"Daly said he could drive a coach-and-six through the Bill!" replied the other; "perhaps he's gone to practise with a pair first."