and the thing, there's only three for
us." Finnerty took the candle; and, after signing to the person to
go out, brought it close to M'Carthy's eyes, who opened his mouth and
assumed with singular success all the deep insensible relaxation which
characterizes heavy sleep. Finnerty even shook him, and said, "Hadn't
you better get up, sir, and come to meet the car?" He addressed a log,
however, and after another more careless and evidently satisfied glance,
he laid down the candle, and then said to his wife, in a whisper, which,
however, M'Carthy could hear; "The moment he wakens let us know."

Vread, who would not seem to attach any importance to the circumstance,
simply nodded, by way of acquiescence, and her husband, went to join
those in the lodge.

In every country whose political, commercial, or social relations, are
not properly settled, or in which there exists a struggle between
the principles at variance with civil order and those of enlightened
progress, there will always be found a considerable portion of
the population ripe and ready for violence and crime. This is an
undisputable fact, and one the more dangerous too, inasmuch as crime is
usually stripped by these misguided wretches of its inherent guilt, and
looked upon as a necessary instrument, or, in other words, as a means
to work out an end. It is true, the relative portion of the reckless
and guilty is, in this country at least, considering its population,
exceedingly small, for we all know how miserable the number of those
who are at any time necessary to involve the character of a district at
large, or inculpate the moral reputation of a whole country. At the same
time, we must unquestionably admit, that, if we contrast the population
of the country at large, and the frequency of crime in it, joined to
its character of cool and deliberate atrocity, with that of the sister
countries, we must candidly acknowledge, that the conduct of the people,
even taking the proportions I have mentioned into consideration, is not
only without parallel in modern times, but that religion is not merely a
name, but, in every sense, incapable, whether by its internal spirit
or maladministration, of discharging to society those great functional
duties which mankind have a right to expect from it. But now to return.

Finnerty had joined the meeting; his wife, approaching M'Carthy, said,
in a low whisper--

"They have some argument about you, whatever it is. However, wit