e is to revenge themselves on me."

"And if it war so, Captain Ussher, what have I to do with it?"

Ussher looked very hard at Thady's face, but it was much too dark for
him to see anything that was there.

"Probably not much yourself; but I thought that as these men were
your father's tenants, you might feel unwilling that they should turn
murderers; and as I am your father's friend, you might, for his sake,
wish to prevent them murdering me."

"And is it from what such a gaping fool as McGovery says, you have
become afraid that men would murder you, who never so much as raised
their hand agin any of those who are from day to day crushing and
ruining them?"

"If I had been afraid, I should not have come here. Indeed, it was
to show them that I am not afraid of coming among them without my
own men at my back that I came here. But though I am not afraid, and
though it is not what McGovery says I mind--and he is not such a fool
as some others--nevertheless I do think, in fact, from different
sources, I know, that there is something going on through the
country, which will bring the poor into worse troubles than they've
suffered yet; and if, as I much think, they've come here to talk of
their plans to-night, and if you know that it is so, you're foolish
to be among them."

"Is that all you've to say to me, Captain Ussher?"

"Not quite; I wanted to ask you, on your honour, as a man and an
Irishman, do you know whether there is any conspiracy among them
to murder or do any injury to me?" Ussher paused for a moment; and
as Thady did not answer him, he went on--"and I wanted to warn you
against one who is, I know, trying his best to ruin you and your
father."

"Who is that, Captain Ussher? I believe I know my own friends and my
own inimies," said Thady, who thought the revenue officer alluded to
Keegan.

"Answer my question first."

"And suppose I don't choose to answer it?"

"Why, if you won't answer it, I cannot but think you are aware of
such a conspiracy, and that you approve of it."

"Do you mean to say, Captain Ussher, that I have conspired to murdher
you?"

"No, I say no such thing; but surely, if you heard of such a scheme,
or thought there was such an intention in the country, wouldn't you
tell me, or any one else that was so doomed, that they might be on
their guard?"

"You're very much frightened on a sudden, Captain."

"That's not true, Macdermot; you know I'm not frightened; but will
you answ