"It's the full account of the grand auction of Government hacks," saidFlury, with the sing-song intonation of a street-crier, "no longerneeded for the services of the Crown, and to be sowld without resarve."
"And who sent you here with this?" said the young man, moderating histone, to avoid startling the other.
"Connor Egan, Hickman's man, gave me a pint and a noggin of spirits tocry the auction, and tould me to come up here and maybe you'd like tohear of it ye'selves."
Lionel threw his eyes over the offensive lines, where in coarse ribaldrynames the most venerable were held up to scorn and derision. If it wassome satisfaction to find that his father was linked in the ruffianlyattack with men of honor as unblemished as his own, he was not lessoutraged at the vindictive cowardice that had suggested this insult.
"There'll be a fine sight of people there, by all accounts," said Flury,gravely, "for the auction-bills is far and near over the country, andthe Castlebar coach has one on each door."
"Is popular feeling always as corrupt a thing as this?" muttered Lionel,with a bitter sneer, while at the same time the door of the room wasopened, and Daly entered. His face was marked by a severe cut on onecheek, from which the blood had flowed freely; a dark blue stain, asof a blow, was on his chin, and one hand he carried enveloped in hishandkerchief; his clothes were torn besides in many places, and boretraces of a severe personal conflict.
"What has happened?" said Lionel, as he looked in alarm at the swollenand blood-stained features. "Did you fall?"
"Fall! no such thing, boy," replied Daly, sternly; "but some worthy folkin Castlebar planned a little surprise for me this morning. They heard,it seems, that we passed through the town by daybreak, but that I was toreturn before noon; and so they placed some cars and turf creels in themain street, opposite the inn, in such a way that, while seeming merelyaccident, would effectually stop a horseman from proceeding. When Iarrived at the spot, I halted, and called out to the fellows to moveon, and let me pass. They took no heed of my words, and then I saw in amoment what was intended. I had no arms; I had purposely left mypistols behind me, for I feared something might provoke me, though notanticipating such as this. So I got down and drew this wattle from theside of a turf creel,--you see it is a strong blackthorn, and goodstuff too. Before I was in the saddle the word was passed, and thewhole street was full of people, and I now perceived that, by the samemanouvre as they employed in front, they had also closed the rear uponme, and cut off my retreat. 'Now for it! now for it!' they shouted.'Where's Bully Dodd?--Where's the Bully?' I suppose you know thefellow?"
"The man that was transported?"
"The same. The greatest ruffian the country was cursed with. He came atthe call, without coat or waistcoat, his shirt-sleeves tucked up to hisshoulders, and a handkerchief round his waist ready for a fight. Therewas an old quarrel between us, for it was I captured the fellow the dayafter he burnt down Dawson's house. He came towards me, the mob openinga way for him, with a pewter pot of porter in his hand.
"'We want you to dhrink a toast for us, Mr. Daly,' said he, with amarked courtesy, and a grin that amused the fellows around him. 'Youwere always a patriot, and won't make any objections to it.'
"'What is the liquor?' said I.
"'Good porter,--divil a less,' cried the mob; 'Mol Heavyside's best.'And so I took the vessel in my hands, and before they could say asyllable, drained it to the bottom; for I was very thirsty with theride, and in want of something to refresh myself.
"'But you did n't dhrink the toast,' said Dodd savagely.
"'Where was the toast? He didn't say the words,' shouted the mob.
"'Off with his hat, and make him drink it,' cried out several othersfrom a distance. They saved me one part of the trouble, for they knockedoff my hat with a stone.
"'Here's health and long life to Hickman O'Reilly!' cried outDodd,--'that's the toast.'
"'And what have I to wish him either?' said I, while at the same time Itore open the pewter measure, and then with one strong dash of my banddrove it down on the ruffian's head, down to the very brows. I lost notime afterwards, but, striking right and left, plunged forwards; the mobfled as I followed, and by good luck the carthorses, getting frightened,sprang forward also, and so I rode on with a few slight cuts; a stoneor two struck me, nothing more; but they 'll need a plumber to rid myfriend Dodd of his helmet."
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"And we used to call this town our own," said Lionel, bitterly.
"Nothing is a man's own but his honor, sir. That base cowardice yonderbelieves itself honest and independent, as if a single right feeling, asingle good or virtuous thought, could consort with habits liketheirs; but they are less base than those who instigate them. The realscoundrels are the Hickmans of this world, the men who compensate forlow birth and plebeian origin by calumniating the wellborn and thenoble.--What is Flury wanting here?" said he, as, attracted by Daly'snarrative, the poor fellow had drawn near to listen.
"'I 'm glad you put the pewter pot on the Bully's head, he 's a disgraceto the town," said Flury, with a laugh; and he turned away, as ifenjoying the downfall of an enemy.
"Oh! I see," said Daly, taking up one of the papers that had fallen tothe ground, "this is the first act of the drama. Come along, Lionel, letus talk of matters nearer to our hearts."
They walked along together to the library, each silently followinghis own train of thought, and for some time neither seemed disposed tospeak. Lionel at length broke silence, as he said,--
"I have been thinking over it, and am convinced my father will never beable to endure this life of inactivity before him."
"That is exactly the fear I entertain myself for him; altered fortuneswill impress themselves more in the diminished sphere to which hisinfluence and utility will be reduced, than in anything else: but how toremedy this?"
"I have been considering that also; but you must advise me if the planbe a likely one. He held the rank of colonel once--"
"To be sure he did, and with good right,--he raised the regimenthimself. Darcy's Light Horse were as handsome a set of fellows as theservice could boast of."
"Well, then, my notion is, that although the Government did not buy hisvote on the Union, there would be no just reason why they should notappoint him to some one of those hundred situations which the serviceincludes. His former rank, his connection and position, his unmeritedmisfortunes, are, in some sense, claims. I can scarcely suppose hisopposition in Parliament would be remembered against him at such amoment."
"I hardly think it would," said Daly, musingly; "there is much in whatyou propose. Would Lord Netherby support such a request if it weremade?"
"He could not well decline it; almost the last thing he said at partingwas, that whatever favor he enjoyed should be gladly employed in ourbehalf. Besides, we really seek nothing to which we may not lay fair andhonest claim. My intention would be to write at once to Lord Netherby.acquainting him briefly with our altered fortunes."
"The more briefly on that topic the better," said Daly, dryly.
"To mention my father's military rank and services, to state that,having raised and equipped a company at his own expense, withoutaccepting the slightest aid from the Government, now, in his presentchange of condition, he would be proud of any recognition of thoseservices which once he was but too happy to render unrewarded by theCrown. There are many positions, more or less lucrative, which wouldwell become him, and which no right-minded gentleman could say wereill-bestowed on such a man."
"All true," said Daly, whose eye brightened as he gazed on the youth,whose character seemed already about to develop itself under thepressure of misfortune with traits of more thoughtful meaning than yetappeared iu him.
"Then I will write to Lord Netherby at once," resumed Lionel; "therecan be no indelicacy in making such a request: he is our relative, thenearest my mother has."
"He is far better, he 's a Lord in Waiting, and a very subtle courtier,"said Daly. "Write this day, and, if you like it, I 'll dictate thelett
er."
Lionel accepted the offer with all the pleasure possible. He had beenfrom boyhood a firm believer in the resources and skill of Daly in everypossible contingency of life, and looked on him as one of those personswho invariably succeed when everybody else fails.
There is a species of promptitude in action, the fruit generally of astrong will and a quick imagination, which young men mistake for a muchhigher gift, and estimate at a price very far above its value. BagenalDaly had, however, other qualities than these; but truth compels us toown that, in Lionel's eyes, his supremacy on such grounds was no smallmerit. He had ever found him ready for every emergency, prompt todecide, no less quick to act, and, without stopping to inquire how farsuccess followed such rapid resolves, this very energy charmed him. Itwas, then, in perfect confidence in the skill and address of his adviserthat Lionel sat down, pen in hand, to write at his dictation.