wer in Ireland: the class of the middlemen with
roots in either camp--a grandam, who, perchance, still softens her clay
on the old cabin hearth, while a son preens it with his betters in
Trinity College. Such men carry into the ruling ranks their knowledge
of the modes of thought, the tricks and subterfuges of those from whom
they spring; and at once astute and overbearing, hard and supple, turn
the needs of rich and poor to their own advantage, and rise on the
common loss. Asgill, with money to lend in the town, and protections to
grant upon the bog, with the secrets of two worlds in his head or in
his deed-box, could afford to await with confidence the day when the
storm would break upon Morristown, and Flavia, in the ruin of all about
her, would turn to him for rescue.

Keen therefore was his chagrin when, through the underground channels
which were in his power, he heard two days after the event, and in
distant Tralee, what had happened. Some word of a large Spanish ship
seen off the point had reached the mess-room; but only he knew how
nearly work had been found for the garrison: only he, walking about
with a smooth face, listened for the alarm that did not come. For a
wonder he had been virtuous, he had given James his warning; yet he had
seen cakes and ale in prospect. Now, not only was the treat vanished
below the horizon, but stranger news, news still less welcome, was
whispered in his ear. The man whom he had distrusted from the first,
the man against whom he had warned The McMurrough, had done this. More,
in spite of the line he had taken, the man was still at Morristown, if
not honoured, protected, and if not openly triumphant, master in fact.

Luke Asgill swore horribly. But Colonel Sullivan had got the better of
him once, and he was not to be duped again by this Don Quixote's
mildness and love of peace. He knew him to be formidable, and he took
time to consider before he acted. He waited a week and examined the
matter on many sides before he took horse to see things with his own
eyes. Nor did he alight at the gate of Morristown until he had made
many a resolution to be wary and on his guard.

He had reason to call these to mind before his foot was well out of the
stirrup, for the first person he saw, after he had bidden his groom
take the horses to the stable, was Colonel Sullivan. Asgill had time to
scan his face before they met in the middle of the courtyard, the one
entering, the other leaving; and he