Your favor's granted, sir," she replied--"granted, Mr. Reilly, even
before I hear it--that is, supposin' always that it's in my power--to do
it for you."

"It is simply to carry a letter--and be certain that it shall be
delivered to the proper person."

"Well," she replied, "sure that's aisily done. And where am I to deliver
it?" she asked.

"That I shall let you know on some future occasion--perhaps within the
course of a week or so."

"Well, sir," she replied, "I'd go twenty miles to deliver it--and will
do so wid a heart and a half."

"Well, Molly, I can tell you your journey won't be so far; but there
is one thing you are to observe--you must never breathe it to a human
creature."

"I thought you knew me better, Mr. Reilly."

"It would be impossible, however, to be too strict here, because you
don't know how much depends upon it."

At this moment Fergus put in his head, and said, "For Christ's sake,
snuff out the candle, and Reilly--fly!--There are people in the next
field!--quick!--quick!"

Reilly snatched up his hat, and whispered to the widow, "Deny that you
saw me, or that there was any one here!--Put out the candle!--they might
see our figures darkening the light as we go out!"

Fergus and Reilly immediately planted themselves behind a whitethorn
hedge, in a field adjoining the cabin, in order to reconnoitre the
party, whoever they might be, which they could do in safety. This act of
reconnoitering, however, was performed by the ear, and not at all by the
eye; the darkness of the night rendered that impossible. Of course the
search in the widow's cabin was equally fruitless.

"Now," whispered Reilly, "we'll go in a line parallel with the road,
but at a safe distance from them, until they reach the cross-roads. If
they turn towards my house, we are forewarned, but if they turn towards
Sir Robert's, it is likely that I may have an opportunity of securing
my cash and papers." On reaching the cross-roads alluded to, the party,
much to the satisfaction of Reilly and his companion, did turn towards
the residence of Sir Robert Whitecraft, thus giving the fugitives full
assurance that nothing further was to be apprehended from them that
night. The men in fact felt fatigued and were anxious to get to bed.

After approaching Reilly's house very cautiously, and with much
circumspection--not an outhouse, or other place of concealment, having
been left unexamined--they were about to enter, when Reilly, thinki