they called
themselves--were determined to show how they could dictate to a jury.

'There's law for you!' cried the old man again.

'You'll have to take to vigilance committees, like the Yankees,' said the
major.

'We've had them for years; but they only shoot their political opponents.'

'They say, too,' broke in the young man, 'that Donogan is in the town, and
that it is he who has organised the whole prosecution. In fact, he intends
to make Battersby's speech for the plaintiff a great declaration of the
wrongs of Ireland; and as Battersby hates the Chief Baron, who will try
the cause, he is determined to insult the Bench, even at the cost of a
commitment.'

'What will he gain by that?' asked Lockwood.

'Every one cannot have a father that was hanged in '98; but any one can go
to gaol for blackguarding a Chief-Justice,' said Kearney.

For a moment or two the old man seemed ashamed at having been led to make
these confessions to 'the Saxon,' and telling Lockwood where he would
be likely to find a brace of cocks, he took his son's arm and returned
homeward.

CHAPTER LXXVI

VERY CONFIDENTIAL CONVERSATION

When Lockwood returned, only in time to dress for dinner, Walpole, whose
room adjoined his, threw open the door between them and entered. He had
just accomplished a most careful 'tie,' and came in with the air of one
fairly self-satisfied and happy.

'You look quite triumphant this evening,' said the major, half sulkily.

'So I am, old fellow; and so I have a right to be. It's all done and
settled.'

'Already?'

'Ay, already. I asked her to take a stroll with me in the garden; but we
sauntered off into the plantation. A woman always understands the exact
amount of meaning a man has in a request of this kind, and her instinct
reveals to her at once whether he is eager to tell her some bit of fatal
scandal of one of her own friends, or to make her a declaration.'

A sort of sulky grunt was Lockwood's acknowledgment of this piece of
abstract wisdom--a sort of knowledge he never listened to with much
patience.

'I am aware,' said Walpole flippantly, 'the female nature was an omitted
part in your education, Lockwood, and you take small interest in those nice
distinctive traits which, to a man of the world, are exactly what the stars
are to the mariner.'

'Finding out what a woman means by the stars does seem very poor fun.'

'Perhaps you prefer the moon for your observation,' replied Walpole; a