man who gave that information certainly lied. I knew nothing
of the plans of the United Irishmen yesterday, but it is right that I
should tell you----"

"It is not right that you should tell me anything more. You have
answered my two questions. I have your word for it that you are not a
United Irishman, and I have your word that the information received by
the Government is false. I want to hear no more on that subject. I shall
take the responsibility of refusing to arrest you. I am also bidden to
arrest your father. I ask you no questions about him. I simply inform
you that I am not going to arrest him either. I do not believe in his
innocence. I think it likely that he is implicated in the conspiracy,
but I am not going to arrest him. He is too old to fight, and when
the other three men on my list are in prison he will have ceased to be
dangerous. Further, your father, in his writings, has attacked, and, in
my opinion, slandered me personally."

"You mean in the _Northern Star?_"

"Yes. In the series of articles called '_Letters of a Democrat,_' which
are attributed, I think rightly, to your father."

Lord Dunseveric paused. Neal remained silent. He had not read the
articles, but he believed his father had attacked the landlord
aristocracy with great bitterness, and he thought it likely that Lord
Dunseveric had cause for complaint.

"I do not choose," said Lord Dunseveric, "to take part in the arrest of
a man who may be regarded as my personal enemy. You may tell your father
this, and you may tell him further that if he is a wise man he will
leave the country at once. The next magistrate charged with his arrest
may not have my scruples or my reasons for hesitating. Now, listen to
me, Neal, before I leave you, and mark what I say. I admit, and I always
have admitted, the justice of the claims which your people make. There
ought to be equality, full and complete, for you and the Catholics.
There ought to be an end to the tyranny under which you suffer, but
you are going the wrong way about getting your wrongs righted. Your
rebellion, if there is to be a rebellion, can't succeed. You will be
crushed. And Neal, lad, that crushing will be an evil business. It will
be evil for you and your friends, but that's not all. It will be made an
excuse for taking away the hard won liberty of Ireland. Keep out of
it, Neal. Take my advice, and keep out of it, for your own sake and for
Ireland's."

He took the young man's hand,