r military purposes."

"Musha, but that's fine talk," said Mrs. O'Halloran. "Will nothing do
you, only military purposes?"

"We shall do no harm to the inmates or the contents of the house," said
the young man.

"You will not, for you won't be let."

"But I demand free entrance to the upper storeys for myself and my men."

He turned to the two boys on the steps outside the door.

"Enter," he said, "and follow me."

"Will you wipe your boots on the mat," said Mrs. O'Halloran, "and not
be carrying all the mud of the streets into the house with you. Do you
think the girls that does be here has nothing to do only to be sweeping
carpets and polishing floors after the likes of you?"

The army of the Irish Republic has had many crimes laid to its charge;
but it has not been said that its soldiers were guilty of any needless
discourtesy to the inhabitants of the houses of which they took
possession. The three young men wiped their boots on Lady Devereux'
doormat with elaborate cafe. Mrs. O'Halloran watched them critically.

"Is it the police you're out after with them guns?" she said. "It's a
pity, so it is, to see fine young fellows like you mixing yourselves
up with that foolishness. Sure they'll get you at the latter end, and
you'll be had up in Court."

The leader of the little party of Sinn Feiners was not inclined to
discuss the future prospects of the insurrection with Mrs. O'Halloran.
He moved across the hall towards the staircase, followed by his two
young men. They walked delicately, stepping carefully from one to
another of the rugs which lay on the floor and avoiding the polished
boards. They were courteous and considerate rebels.

"Will nothing but the front stairs suit you?" said Mrs. O'Halloran.
"Cock you up, indeed, the likes of you, that never was in a lady's house
before. The back stairs is good enough for me, so I'm thinking it's good
enough for you. Come along with you now."

She led them past the foot of the great staircase and through a swing
door covered with green baize. That door, such was the fancy of the
designer of Lady Devereux' house, concealed another, a very solid door,
made after the Georgian fashion, of thick mahogany. The baize-covered
door had a spring on it so that it swung shut of itself. Mrs. O'Halloran
held it open with one hand. With the other she turned the handle of the
solid door beyond.

"Will you come along now," she said to the three young men, "and take
care you do