CHAPTER V.—(Continued).

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 10, 4 July 1890, Page 23

CHAPTER V.— (Continued).

The address was delivered to a man who had come in, unperceived in the warmth of their conversation, and stood with a letter in his hand. A tall soldierly man with a bronzed face, as one who had seen much campaigning, and with a scar across his cheek which, added to a curious pair of hazel eyes, gave him somehow a sinister look. It was evident from O'Moore's emphatic query that he was rather startled and annoyed at his unexpected presence, and Maurice, on glancing at him, certainly thought, judging from hi 3 appearance, he should not care to have many important secrets in hia keeping.

For he looked at both, with an askance look of surprise, or discovery, or perhaps of fear, as he answered, " A note from his lordship."

" And why the devil did you not announce yourself before you entered?" said O'Moore with grett an<?er — not unimbued with another feeling. " Tell Lord Enaiskilleo I shall see him presently," he said as he read the note ; " and see, sirrah ! do not come into private rooms again unannounced." " Who is that ? " askad Maurice, as the messenger departed. " He has a very strange face— has he not 1 " " And a strange career," said O'Moore, "He was an officer in Sir John Clotworth's regiment whom his sister, Lady Ellen, induced Enniskillen to take into his service. Bince that time he has gained the most extraordinary mastery over bis lordship, and, in fact, has become on terms of exceeding intimacy with him."

" He has heard all you said."

" Oh, be is all right so far as that is concerned. He has learned nothing now that he has not learned already from his lordship ; it is more the unexpected surprise of bis presence that startled me, than his knowledge of what we spoke. But come along, his lordship is expecting us." And throwing the unburned enda of their cigars into the porcelain urn, they proceeded through the corridors to the room appointed — where was his lordship in deep conversation with another form half hidden in the gloom. "Well, my lord," said Roger Leix, " I have made another convert, and a valuable one, to the good cause. Maurice O'Connor of Arranmore — once Colonel Maurice O'Connor, of her Most Catholic Majesty's service, and now Colonel Maurice O'Connor of his Most Protestant Majesty's service — is not unwilling to throw his fate in with those who risk all for Ireland "

" And freedom," interrupted bis lordship

'' And King Charles," said Roger Leix, with a motion of hia eyebrows which might be taken for reproof, adraoaitioa or warning— so slight, bo almost imperceivable, and so mouitory it was. Aad forthwith he Droceeded to narrate the Bubstance of their conversation, and Maurice's willingness to investigate the evidences of chance of success. •' Whom sball we appoint as guide ? Shall 1 or you, my lord ? "

" If you will permit, I shall undertake the welcome duty," said the fourth party.

" Right, Friar," said his lordship ; and Maurice, glancing more sharply, saw that it was the same who bad accompanied him into the house. " There can be no better guide. But don't let your zeal lead you astray," he added with a laugh, '• as it has done with Lady Helen."

" I hpve no doubt Lady Helen will yet see that the views of Irish matters drawn from society among the Anglo-Irish noblemen of the Pale are not those that an Irish lady of her high rank should hold," said tbe Friar, quietly.

" Well, well, I hope so," said his lordship pleasantly ; " but, meanwhile, let me introduce you — Colonel Maurice O'Connor — Fiiir Tully, well known at tbe courts of France and Spain. You have met before, I think — this morning."

Maurice could not help glancing again at the pale face of the ecclesiastic. Tbe name was a familiar one to him evea when he was a youth in the service of the Queen of Spain. His singular piety and rigid life, his courteous ways and renown for learning, but most of all his marvellous love for Ireland, and his indefatigable exertions in her cause, made his name a remarkable and famous one.

For ever urging the freedom of, and the necessity of armed aid to, Ireland on the foreign rulers ; for ever urging her latent powers as a military nation, and her deep and abiding Catholicity as a claim to their regard, he was unceasing, irrepressible. In the same manner he had made acquaintance with the Irish officers serving u-der the foreign banners ; recounted to them the great future there might be, and was, before the unforgotten land at home ; described in words of glowing eloquence their ancient patrimonies which many or them had never seen but which their swords might again regain ; brought before them, in fact, every reason and every argument which might sway the hearts of soldier exiles, and so worked them into enthusiastic remembrance and love for the island-home beyond the e^ai.

Maurice had heard of all this muny a time — had ha rd ins name spoken of at many a bm<uac fir. 1 and many a spleaaii dinncr-iabU' —but he bad never seen him. 2s T ut, therefore, without curiosity aud

admiration he looked upoa the palid, ascetic face of him whoa 3 name had been so often in his ears.

" If Colonel Maurice O'Connor," said the Friar, breaking silence, " wishes to inform himself of liow matters are in Ireland preparatory to )oinin£ the ranks of his fellow-countryman, and not through motives of idle curiosity, I am prepared to convince him,"

"Nay! nay 1" said Lord Euniskillen, interposing, " w.i shall impose no condition on Coloael O'Connor. Hl3 owa honour and sense of patriotism and courage are his bj^t guides. He is free to go as he came — unhampered, save by his plighted word."

The remaik was frank an I chivalrous enough, and for the moment Maurice was convinced by it. Still a mo3t uncomfortabla feeling pervaded him. He had unwittingly been brought into matters of most dangerous character and complexion, aad h9re he was now essaying an experiment which might or might not be at complete right angleß with his position in the service and with hia oath «f loyalty. However, he had expressed his intention of going, and come weal or woe, be it right or wrong;, he was determined on seeing it out. Holding back now might reidily be construed into an act of craven faintheartedness, and the hot blood of the young Colonel of the Guards could under no circamstaaces and for no reason brook that. There was a barrier beyond which even loyalty could not go, and it lay here.

He felt wearied and perplexed, and as it was some time before tbe project could be put in force, resolved to stroll down by therirer, which then ran clear and sparkling, and enjoy a cigar.

Leaving the two gentlemen to their conversation, Maurice strolled out into the air. Ha was completely bewildered by what he had heard, and almost regretted that he had come over. Notwithstanding the earnestness with which Roger Leix had told him of the projected rebellion, of the gentlemen who formed its sworn brotherhood of leaders, of the secrecy with which their plaas had bsen keot, he still doubted, not alone its chances of sucsess, but almost its existence. The news had come to him with such suddenness that it taxed all his powers of credulity. The more he thought over the project *he less he liked it. Do what he could he could not help thinking that it was directed as much against the King as against the Parliament, and he had been too long living amongst the highspirited cavaliers of England not to have imbibed much of their fervent and gallant loyalty. Treason was the one offence hateful in their eyes, and the taciturn and fanatic spirit of the Puritans against the King made it but the more indispensable on their part to show, if only by way of contrast, their own chivalrous loyalty. It was rank and lineage, as they considered, against plebeians and churls ; it was high and lofty davotion and self-sacrifice against the growlings of low-born sedition ; it was, in a word, all that was proud and noble against all that was base and churlish. Maurice had many a time laughed heartily a 9 some cavalier officer at their mesa imitated the preaching of the Puritan ministers — the Jnasal twang, the solemn and rigid severity of features, almost descending to the ridiculous in its overstrained gloominess, and the frequent appeals to the Old Testament and its warrior names. Insensibly, therefore, he had come to look upoa the cause of the King as the one bright star to which all gallant aspirations and noble ambitioos should turn, and the Puritan and Parliamentary party as oae to be crushed out and trampled as vermin would be crushed and trampled. Here, however, was a new and conflicting third party entering on the scene. He had been so long out of Ireland that his knowledge of it was but of the vaguest. Indeed, he was more proud of his country lrom the gallantry and devotion of the officers from home serving under foreign banners than anything else. His love for it was but the reflex of their intense and passionate yearning for it. He had often marvelled at the constancy with which thpy thought of Ireland, spoke of it, hoped for it ; how all their reckless valour, all their dauntless achievements, were but as preliminaries fitting them one day for helping her ; bow little honours and fame on Spanish soil at all occupied their minds compared with the one thought that was in their heads from dusk to dawn, morning, noon, and eveIreland I Ireland I Ireland !

He was very sorry he made the promise and so placed himself in such doubtful and compromising position, but there was uo help for it.