ce
the command.

"Lay but a finger on me," said Mark, scornfully, "and I'll dash your
head against the wall."

The insolence of this threat might have been followed by ill
consequences, had not Lanty sprung hastily forward, and, catching the
constable by the arm, cried out--

"It is the O'Donoghue of Glenflesk, a young gentleman of rank and
fortune."

"What do we care for his rank or fortune," said the other, passionately.
"If he obstructs the King's warrant for the arrest of a traitor or a
felon, I value him no more than the meanest beggar in the street. Those
papers there, for all I know, might throw light on the whole plot."

"They are at your service now," said Mark, as, with a kick of his foot,
he dashed the blackened embers from him, and sent them in floating
fragments through the room.

Unwilling as he seemed to continue a contest in which his authority had
met only defiance, the constable gave the order to his underlings to
make a strict search of the apartment and the bed-room which opened into
it, during which Mark seated himself carelessly in an arm-chair, and
taking a newspaper from the table, affected to read it.

Lanty stood for a few seconds, irresolute what to do; then stealing
softly behind Mark's chair, he muttered, in a broken voice--

"If I thought he was a friend of yours, Master Mark---- But it's no
matter--I know he's off. I heard the gallop of a beast on the stones
since we came in. Well, well, I never expected to see you here."

Mark made no other reply to this speech than a steady frown, whose
contemptuous expression Lanty cowered under, as he said once more--

"It wasn't my fault at all, if I was obliged to come with the
constables. There's more charges nor mine against him, the chap with the
black whiskers says----"

"It's quite clear," said the chief of the party, as he re-entered the
room, "it's quite clear this man was here a few minutes since, and
equally so that you know of his place of concealment. I tell you
plainly, sir, if you continue to refuse information concerning him,
I'll take you as my prisoner. I have two warrants against him--one for
highway robbery, the other for treason."

"Why the devil have you no informations sworn against him for murder?"
said Mark, insolently, for the language of the bailiff had completely
aroused his passion. "Whoever he is, you are looking for, seems to have
a clear conscience."

"Master Mark knows nothing at all about him, I'll go