ned against him--he with his open, generous nature? Alas,
and alas! When love failed, what was friendship? The voice whose
quivering whisper had entranced his ear, had irradiated his heart, had
been lifted against him in cold condemnation. The head which had lain
upon his breast was averted in repulsion. The lips which had kissed his
were hardened in scorn. Where then was there room for friendship?
Nothing lasts!

Leaving his private quarters, he rode over to the Barkly Hotel, to
settle up his score at that sumptuous caravanserai. A group of men were
on the _stoep_, smoking their after-dinner pipe in noisy discussion.
His arrival was the signal for a sodden silence. Of this he took no
notice--standing in the doorway, with his back to the street, while
Jones went inside to receipt the bill.

"And how are ye, Mr Musgrave? It's a long time since I've seen ye,
anyway, and me only just back."

Roden turned quickly. The jolly voice with its touch of brogue, the
rusty black coat and stove-pipe hat, the kind face and thick white hair,
could belong to no other than Father O'Driscoll. And--he was advancing
with outstretched hand. Roden stared, first at that very substantial
member, then at its owner. But he did not respond, beyond a stiff bow.

"Ah, an' is it like ye, to wish to cut an old friend?" said the old man,
his hand still held forth, and a look in his eyes that there was no
mistaking. For it said, as plain as words, "I know all--all. But
understand, _I_ am not called upon to judge you, however some here may
reckon themselves to be, God forgive them!"

Roden's hand closed upon that of the old priest in a warm grasp.

"An old friend, did you say, Father? I am proud of the word as coming
from you; of the thing as existing between us."

"Ah, and what'll I do now without all our talks about the ould counthry
and the fishing? Sure they've brought back the chimes of Shandon bells,
and the days when I was a bit of a gorsoon a whippin' the trout out of
the Shournagh, wid a long shtick and a crooked pin, faster than the
garrison officers could get at 'em with their grand new rods. See now,
I've only just got back, and the moment I heard ye were leavin' us I
hurried off to find ye. Now come and have a bit of dinner with me
before ye leave, and a parting tumbler of punch."

This in the face of all Doppersdorp, for the benefit of those who had
condemned and shunned him. No one was more capable than Roden o