ered not only with official documents, but a number
of printed placards and handbills.

He looked up, surprised at her presence, and by the tone of familiarity in
her question, for which he was in no way prepared, and for a second or two
actually stared at without answering her.

'Can't you tell me? Are they correct in saying he has been caught?' cried
she impatiently.

'Very far from it. There are the police returns up to last night from
Meath, Kildare, and Dublin; and though he was seen at Naas, passed some
hours in Dublin, and actually attended a night meeting at Kells, all trace
of him has been since lost, and he has completely baffled us. By the
Viceroy's orders, I am now doubling the reward for his apprehension, and
am prepared to offer a free pardon to any who shall give information about
him, who may not actually have committed a felony.'

'Is he so very dangerous, then?'

'Every man who is so daring is dangerous here. The people have a sort of
idolatry for reckless courage. It is not only that he has ventured to
come back to the country where his life is sacrificed to the law, but he
declares openly he is ready to offer himself as a representative for an
Irish county, and to test in his own person whether the English will have
the temerity to touch the man--the choice of the Irish people.'

'He is bold,' said she resolutely.

'And I trust he will pay for his boldness! Our law-officers are prepared
to treat him as a felon, irrespective of all claim to his character as a
Member of Parliament.'

'The danger will not deter him.'

'You think so?'

'I know it,' was the calm reply.

'Indeed,' said he, bending a steady look at her. 'What opportunities, might
I ask, have you had to form this same opinion?'

'Are not the public papers full of him? Have we not an almost daily record
of his exploits? Do not your own rewards for his capture impart an almost
fabulous value to his life?'

'His portrait, too, may lend some interest to his story,' said he, with
a half-sneering smile. 'They say this is very like him.' And he handed a
photograph as he spoke.

'This was done in New York,' said she, turning to the back of the card, the
better to hide an emotion she could not entirely repress.

'Yes, done by a brother Fenian, long since in our pay.'

'How base all that sounds! how I detest such treachery!'

'How deal with treason without it? Is it like him?' asked he artlessly.

'How should I know?' said she, i