s to be polite, was not likely to know or care
anything about Ireland. Gorman left us and joined them.

"Well," I said to Ascher, "what do you think of this performance in
Galway?"

"Have you read the newspapers?" he said.

"The headlines," I replied. "I couldn't very well help reading them."

Ascher stepped across the carriage and picked up one of the papers from
the floor. It was the one which declared that civil war had broken out
in Ireland.

"I wish," he said, "that I knew exactly the measure of my nephew's
intelligence."

"Captain von Richter?" I said.

"Yes. He may--almost anything is possible with a man like him. He may
believe that."

Ascher pointed to the words, "Civil War."

"I don't think you need worry about that," I said. "Whatever Malcolmson
and his lot may do those fellows in Galway won't fight. Gorman and the
priests will stop them. You can always count on the politicians and the
priests. They'll prevent anything really serious. The Connaught Celt
will never start a civil war; at least not unless he gives up his
religion and takes to hanging Members of Parliament. He's a splendid
fighting man--none better--but he won't run the risk of losing his soul
for the sake of a battle. He must be told he ought to fight by some
one whose authority he recognises. That's where we're safe. All the
authorities are against violence."

"I have no doubt you are right," said Ascher. "No civil war will be
started in the way these papers suggest. I am not anxious about that. It
is impossible. But I am anxious lest it should be believed possible by
men who do not understand. My nephew, for instance. He will not know
what you know. He may believe--and those over him in Berlin--they will
not understand. They may think that the men in Ireland who have got
the guns will use them. They may even have had something to do with
supplying the guns. That is where the danger lies. A miscalculation--not
in Ireland--but elsewhere."

I did not like to ask whether Mrs. Ascher's enthusiasm for the cause of
Ireland had led her to finance the Galway gun-running. Nor did I care to
question Ascher about his suggestion that Von Richter had something to
do with buying and shipping that cargo or the other which was landed
at Larne. Ascher seemed disinclined to discuss the matter further. We
joined Gorman and the two ladies at the far end of the carriage, picking
up Tim on our way.

Gorman was sitting beside Miss Gibson. He was leani