Lord Kilgobbin Part 108

'So we do,' rejoined Atlee. 'He is another Bohemian.'

'Don't say so, sir,' said she pa.s.sionately. 'The men who put their lives on a venture--and that venture not a mere gain to themselves--are in nowise the a.s.sociates of those poor adventurers who are gambling for their daily living. He is a rebel, if you like; but he believes in rebellion. How much do you believe in, Mr. Atlee?'

'I say, Joe, you are getting the worst of this discussion. Seriously, however, I hope they'll not catch poor Donogan; and my father has asked Curtis to come over and dine here, and I trust to a good fire and some old claret to keep him quiet for this evening, at least. We must not molest the police; but there's no great harm done if we mislead them.'

'Once in the drawing-room, if Mademoiselle Kostalergi will only condescend to aid us,' added Atlee, 'I think Curtis will be more than a chief constable if he will bethink him of his duty.'

'You are a strange set of people, you Irish,' said Nina, as she walked away. 'Even such of you as don't want to overthrow the Government are always ready to impede its march and contribute to its difficulties.'

'She only meant that for an impertinence,' said Atlee, after she left the room; 'but she was wonderfully near the truth, though not truthfully expressed.'

CHAPTER Lx.x.xIII

THE GARDEN BY MOONLIGHT

There was but one heavy heart at the dinner-table that day; but Nina's pride was proof against any disclosure of suffering, and though she was tortured by anxiety and fevered with doubt, none--not even Kate--suspected that any care weighed on her.

As for Kate herself, her happiness beamed in every line and lineament of her handsome face. The captain--to give him the name by which he was known--had been up that day, and partaken of an afternoon tea with his aunt and Kate. Her spirits were excellent, and all the promise of the future was rose-coloured and bright. The little cloud of what trouble the trial might bring was not suffered to darken the cheerful meeting, and it was the one only bitter in their cup.

To divert Curtis from this theme, on which, with the accustomed _mal a propos_ of an awkward man, he wished to talk, the young men led him to the subject of Donogan and his party.

'I believe we'll take him this time,' said Curtis. 'He must have some close relations with some one about Moate or Kilbeggan, for it is remarked he cannot keep away from the neighbourhood; but who are his friends, or what they are meditating, we cannot guess.'

'If what Mademoiselle Kostalergi said this morning be correct,' remarked Atlee, 'conjecture is unnecessary. She told d.i.c.k and myself that every Irishman is at heart a rebel.'

'I said more or less of one, Mr. Atlee, since there are some who have not the courage of their opinions.'

'I hope you are gratified by the emendation,' whispered d.i.c.k; and then added aloud, 'Donogan is not one of these.'

'He's a consummate fool,' cried Curtis bluntly. 'He thinks the attack of a police-barrack or the capture of a few firelocks will revolutionise Ireland.'

'He forgets that there are twelve thousand police, officered by such men as yourself, captain,' said Nina gravely.

'Well, there might be worse,' rejoined Curtis doggedly, for he was not quite sure of the sincerity of the speaker.

'What will you be the better of taking him?' said Kilgobbin. 'If the whole tree be pernicious, where's the use of plucking one leaf off it?'

'The captain has nothing to do with that,' said Atlee, 'any more than a hound has to discuss the morality of foxhunting--his business is the pursuit.'

'I don't like your simile, Mr. Atlee,' said Nina, while she whispered some words to the captain, and drew him in this way into a confidential talk.

'I don't mind him at all, Miss Nina,' said Curtis; 'he's one of those fellows on the press, and they are always saying impertinent things to keep their talents in wind. I'll tell you, in confidence, how wrong he is. I have just had a meeting with the Chief Secretary, who told me that the popish bishops are not at all pleased with the leniency of the Government; that whatever "healing measures" Mr. Gladstone contemplates, ought to be for the Church and the Catholics; that the Fenians or the Nationalists are the enemies of the Holy Father; and that the time has come for the Government to hunt them down, and give over the rule of Ireland to the Cardinal and his party.'

'That seems to me very reasonable, and very logical,' said Nina.

'Well, it is and it is not. If you want peace in the rabbit-warren, you must banish either the rats or the rabbits; and I suppose either the Protestants or the Papists must have it their own way here.'

'Then you mean to capture this man?'

'We do--we are determined on that. And, what's more, I'd hang him if I had the power.'

'And why?'

'Just because he isn't a bad fellow! There's no use in hanging a bad fellow in Ireland--it frightens n.o.body; but if you hang a respectable man, a man that has done generous and fine things, it produces a great effect on society, and is a terrible example.'

'There may be a deep wisdom in what you say.'

'Not that they'll mind me for all that. It's the men like myself, Miss Nina, who know Ireland well, who know every a.s.size town in the country, and what the juries will do in each, are never consulted in England. They say, "Let Curtis catch him--that's his business."'

'And how will you do it?'

'I'll tell you. I haven't men enough to watch all the roads; but I'll take care to have my people where he's least likely to go, that is, to the north. He's a cunning fellow is Dan, and he'd make for the Shannon if he could; but now that he knows we 're after him, he'll turn to Antrim or Derry. He'll cut across Westmeath, and make north, if he gets away from this.'

'That is a very acute calculation of yours; and where do you suspect he may be now--I mean, at this moment we're talking?'

'He's not three miles from where we're sitting,' said he, in a low whisper, and a cautious glance round the table. 'He's hid in the bog outside.

There's scores of places there a man could hide in, and never be tracked; and there's few fellows would like to meet Donogan single-handed. He's as active as a rope-dancer, and he's as courageous as the devil.'

'It would be a pity to hang such a fellow.'

'There's plenty more of the same sort--not exactly as good as him, perhaps, for Dan was a gentleman once.'

'And is, probably, still?'

'It would be hard for him, with the rapscallions he has to live with, and not five s.h.i.+llings in his pocket, besides.'

'I don't know, after all, if you'll be happier for giving him up to the law. He may have a mother, a sister, a wife, or a sweetheart.'

'He may have a sweetheart, but I know he has none of the others. He said, in the dock, that no man could quit life at less cost--that there wasn't one to grieve after him.'

'Poor fellow! that was a sad confession.'

'We're not all to turn Fenians, Miss Nina, because we're only children and unmarried.'

'You are too clever for me to dispute with,' said she, in affected humility; 'but I like greatly to hear you talk of Ireland. Now, what number of people have you here?'

'I have my orderly, and two men to patrol the demesne; but to-morrow we'll draw the net tighter. We'll call in all the party from Moate, and from information I have got, we're sure to track him.'

'What confidences is Curtis making with Mademoiselle Nina?' said Atlee, who, though affecting to join the general conversation, had never ceased to watch them.

'The captain is telling me how he put down the Fenians in the rising of '61,' said Nina calmly.

'And did he? I say, Curtis, have you really suppressed rebellion in Ireland?'

'No; nor won't, Mr. Joe Atlee, till we put down the rascally press--the unprincipled penny-a-liners, that write treason to pay for their dinner.'