the wrong side of the mouth, I think. But in
regard of these nightly meetings of yours, I would have no objection to
see one of them. Do you think I would be allowed to join you for an hour
or two, that I might hear and see what you say and do?"

"You may, Barney; but you know it isn't every one that would get that
privilege; but in ordher to make sure, I'll spake to Shawn about it.
Leave is light, they say; and as he knows you're not likely to turn a
spy upon our hands, I'm certain he won't have any objection."

"When and where will you meet next?" asked Barney.

"On the very spot where Shawn struck his middogue into the body of
Masther Charles," replied his brother. Shawn has some oath of revenge to
make against Woodward, because he suspects that the villain knows where
poor Granua Davoren is."

"Well, on that subject he may take his own coorse," replied Barney; "but
as for me, Michael, I neither care nor will think of the murdher of a
fellow-crature, no matther how wicked he may be, especially when I know
that it is planned for him. As a man and a Christian, I cannot lend
myself to it, and of coorse--but this is between ourselves--I will put
Mr. Woodward on his guard."

Those were noble sentiments, considering the wild and licentious period
of which we write, and the dreadfully low estimate at which human life
was then held.

"Act as you like," replied Michael; "but this I can tell you, and this I
do tell you, that if, for the safety of this villain, you take a single
step that may bring _Shawn-na-Middogue_ into danger, if you were my
brother ten times over I will not prevent him--Shawn I mean--from
letting loose his vengeance upon you. No, nor upon Rathfillan House and
all that it contains, you among the number."

"I will do nothing," replied Barney, firmly, "to bring Shawn or any of
you into danger; but as sure as I have a Christian soul to be saved, and
my life in my body, I will, as I said, put Mr. Harry Woodward upon his
guard against him. So now, if you think it proper to let me be present
at your meeting, knowing what you know, I will go, but not otherwise."

"I feel, Barney," said his brother, "that my mind is much hardened of
late by the society I keep. I remember when I thought murder as horrible
a thing as you do, but now it is not so. The planning and the plotting
of it is considered only as a good joke among us."

"But why don't you lave them, then?" said Barney. "The pious principles
of our fa