y
should I delay here--to what end?'

'Only that, if you could say Saturday, I would like to go down with you.'

From the mode in which he said these words, it was clear that he looked for
an almost rapturous acceptance of his gracious proposal; but Dick did not
regard the project in that light, nor was he overjoyed in the least at the
proposal.

'I mean,' said Walpole, hastening to relieve the awkwardness of silence--'I
mean that I could talk over this affair with your father in a practical
business fashion, that you could scarcely enter into. Still, if Saturday
could not be managed, I'll try if I could not run down with you on Friday.
Only for a day, remember, I must return by the evening train. We shall
arrive by what hour?'

'By breakfast-time,' said Dick, but still not over-graciously.

'Nothing could be better; that will give us a long day, and I should like
a full discussion with your father. You'll manage to send me on to--what's
the name?'

'Moate.'

'Moate. Yes; that's the place. The up-train leaves at midnight, I remember.
Now that's all settled. You'll take me up, then, here on Friday morning,
Kearney, on your way to the station, and meanwhile I'll set to work, and
put off these deputations and circulars till Saturday, when, I remember, I
have a dinner with the provost. Is there anything more to be thought of?'

'I believe not,' muttered Dick, still sullenly.

'Bye-bye, then, till Friday morning,' said he, as he turned towards his
desk, and began arranging a mass of papers before him.

'Here's a jolly mess with a vengeance,' muttered Kearney, as he descended
the stair. 'The Viceroy's private secretary to be domesticated with a
"head-centre" and an escaped convict. There's not even the doubtful comfort
of being able to make my family assist me through the difficulty.'

CHAPTER XXXIII

PLMNUDDM CASTLE, NORTH WALES

Among the articles of that wardrobe of Cecil Walpole's of which Atlee
had possessed himself so unceremoniously, there was a very gorgeous blue
dress-coat, with the royal button and a lining of sky-blue silk, which
formed the appropriate costume of the gentlemen of the viceregal household.
This, with a waistcoat to match, Atlee had carried off with him in
the indiscriminating haste of a last moment, and although thoroughly
understanding that he could not avail himself of a costume so distinctively
the mark of a condition, yet, by one of the contrarieties of his strange
nature,