to the poop. I was standing near the bulwark at the time,
watching the scene with intense interest. As General Humbert stood a
little in advance of the rest, the collector, probably taking him for
the captain, addressed him with some courteous expressions of welcome,
and was proceeding to speak of the weather, when the general gently
stopped him by asking if he spoke French.

I shall never forget the terror of face that question evoked. At first,
looking at his two companions, the collector turned his eyes to the
gaff, where the English flag was flying; but still unable to utter a
word, he stood like one entranced.

'You have been asked if you can speak French, sir?' said Conolly, at a
sign from the general.

'No--very little--very badly--not at all; but isn't this--am I not on
board of----'

'Can none of them speak French?' said Humbert shortly.

'Yes, sir,' said a young man on the collector's right; 'I can make
myself intelligible in that language, although no great proficient.'

'Who are you, monsieur?--are you a civilian?' asked Humbert.

'Yes, sir. I am the son of the Bishop of Killala, and this young
gentleman is my brother.'

'What is the amount of the force in this neighbourhood?'

'You will pardon me, sir,' said the youth, 'if I ask, first, who it is
puts this question, and under what circumstances I am expected to answer
it.'

'All frank and open, sir,' said Humbert, good-humouredly. 'I 'm the
General Humbert, commanding the army for the liberation of Ireland--so
much for your first question. As to your second one, I believe that if
you have any concern for yourself, or those belonging to you, you will
find that nothing will serve your interest so much as truth and plain
dealing.'

'Fortunately, then, for me,' said the youth, laughing, 'I cannot
betray my king's cause, for I know nothing, nothing whatever, about the
movement of troops. I seldom go ten miles from home, and have not been
even at Ballina since last winter.'

'Why so cautious about your information, then, sir,' broke in Serasin
roughly, 'since you have none to give?'

'Because I had some to receive, sir, and was curious to know where I was
standing,' said the young man boldly.

While these few sentences were being interchanged, Madgett had
learned from the collector that, except a few companies of militia and
fencibles, the country was totally unprovided with troops; but he also
learned that the people were so crest-fallen and su