n the jailer's face,
While the prisoner ran away!"
And now they are all gone, George--gone where you and I must meet them
some day--not a far-off one, maybe.'
'O'Sullivan was here to-day, sire, to wish your Majesty long life and
happiness; and the old fellow looked as hearty and high-spirited as
ever. I saw him as he passed out of the courtyard, and you 'd have
guessed, by his air and step, that he was a man of forty.'
'He's nigh to eighty-five, then, or I mistake me.' 'Life's strong in
an Irishman--there's no doubt of it,' cried Kelly enthusiastically;
'there's no man takes more out of prosperity, nor gives way less to bad
fortune.' 'What's that song of yours, George, about Paddy O'Flynn--isn't
that the name?' said the Prince, laughing. 'Let 's have it, man.'
'You mean Terry O'Flynn, sire,' said Kelly; 'and, faith, 'twould puzzle
me to call to mind one verse of the same song.'
'Do you even remember the night you made it, George, in the little
wayside shrine, eight miles from Avignon? I'll never forget the
astonished faces of the two friars that peeped in and saw you, glass in
hand, before the fire, chanting that pleasant melody.'
'The Lord forgive you! 'tis many a bad thing you led me into,' said
Kelly with affected sorrow, as he arose and walked to the window.
Meanwhile the Prince, in a low kind of murmuring voice, tried to recall
some words of the song. 'Talking of friars,' said Kelly, 'there's a
thumping big one outside, with his great face shining like the dial of a
clock. I 'm much mistaken if he's not a countryman of my own!'
'Can he sing, George? Has he the gift of minstrelsy, man?'
'If your Royal Highness would like to hear the canticles, I'm sure
he'd oblige you. Faith, I was right; it's poor Luke MacManus--a simple,
kind-hearted creature as ever lived. I remember now that he asked me
when it was possible to see your Royal Highness; and I told him that he
must put down into writing whatever he wanted to say, and come here with
it on the 20th; and sure enough, there he is now.'
'And why did you tell him any such thing, sir?' said the Prince angrily.
'What are these petitions but demands for aid that we have not to
bestow--entreaties we cannot satisfy? Are we not pensioners ourselves?
ay, by the Lord Harry, are we, and beggarly enough in our treatment too.
None knows this better than yourself, Master Kelly. It is not ten days
since you pawned my George. Ay, and, by the way, you never broug
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