sible for his
safe keeping, and undertake to send him out of the country at the first
opportunity."

"It can't be done, Lord Dunseveric. I am sorry to disoblige in a small
matter, but it can't be done."

"I ask it as a matter of justice," said Lord Dunseveric. "The man saved
my life and my son's life to-day in the street at the risk of his own.
He deserves to be spared."

"I've given my answer."

Lord Dunseveric hesitated. For a moment it seemed as if he were about to
turn and leave the room. Then, with an evident effort, he spoke again.

"I ask this man's life as a personal favour. I am not one who begs often
from the Government, or who asks favours easily, but I ask this."

"Anything else, my lord, anything in reason, but this I will not grant.
This young man has a bad record--a damned bad record. He was mixed up
with the hanging of a yeoman in the north------"

"He was not," said Lord Dunseveric. "I hanged that man."

"You hanged him," said General Clavering, Angrily, "and yet you come
here asking favours of me. But there's more, plenty more, against this
Neal Ward. He tried to choke a dragoon in the street of Belfast, he
took part in a daring capture of some ammunition for the rebels' use,
he helped to murder a loyal man at Donegore last night, he was in arms
to-day. There's not half a dozen deserve hanging more richly than he
does, and hanged he'll be. Never you fret yourself about him, Lord
Dunseveric; sit down here and drink a glass with us. We're going to make
a night of it."

"I beg leave to decline your invitation," said Lord Dunseveric, stiffly.
"I have asked for mercy and been refused. I have asked for justice and
been refused. I have begged a personal favour and been refused. I bid
you good night. If I thought you and your companions were capable of any
feeling of common decency I should request you to restrain your mirth a
little out of respect to Lord O'Neill, who lies dying within two doors
of you. But I should probably only provide you with fresh food for your
laughter if I did."

He bowed coldly, and left the room. The company sat silent for a minute
or two. No man cared to look at his neighbour. Lord Dunseveric's last
words had been unpleasant ones to listen to. Besides, Lord Dunseveric
was a man of some importance. It is impossible to tell how far the
influence of a great territorial lord may stretch. Promotion is
sometimes stopped mysteriously by influences which are not very easily
baf