am away. You'll have to
study the county in all its baronies and subdivisions. There, my sister can
help you; and you'll have to learn the names and places of our great county
swells, and mark such as may be likely to assist us. You'll have to stroll
about in our own neighbourhood, and learn what the people near home say of
the intention, and pick up what you can of public opinion in our towns of
Moate and Kilbeggan.'

'I have bethought me of all that---' He paused here and seemed to hesitate
if he should say more; and after an effort, he went on: 'You'll not take
amiss what I'm going to say, Mr. Kearney. You'll make full allowance for a
man placed as I am; but I want, before you go, to learn from you in what
way, or as what, you have presented me to your family? Am I a poor sizar of
Trinity, whose hard struggle with poverty has caught your sympathy? Am I a
chance acquaintance, whose only claim on you is being known to Joe Atlee?
I'm sure I need not ask you, have you called me by my real name and given
me my real character?'

Kearney flushed up to the eyes, and laying his hand on the other's
shoulder, said, 'This is exactly what I have done. I have told my sister
that you are the noted Daniel Donogan, United Irishman and rebel.'

'But only to your sister?'

'To none other.'

'_She_'ll not betray me, I know that.'

'You are right there, Donogan. Here's how it happened, for it was not
intended.' And now he related how the name had escaped him.

'So that the cousin knows nothing?'

'Nothing whatever. My sister Kate is not one to make rash confidences, and
you may rely on it she has not told her.'

'I hope and trust that this mistake will serve you for a lesson, Mr.
Kearney, and show you that to keep a secret, it is not enough to have an
honest intention, but a man must have a watch over his thoughts and a
padlock on his tongue. And now to something of more importance. In your
meeting with Walpole, mind one thing: no modesty, no humility; make your
demands boldly, and declare that your price is well worth the paying;
let him feel that, as he must make a choice between the priests and the
nationalists, we are the easier of the two to deal with: first of all, we
don't press for prompt payment; and, secondly, we'll not shock Exeter Hall!
Show him that strongly, and tell him that there are clever fellows amongst
us who'll not compromise him or his party, and will never desert him on a
close division. Oh dear me, how