the way he rode a-top of that poor
bitch of mine the other day--Goneaway, you know; the best bitch in the
pack?"

"Indeed I do," said the parson; "but for all that, she wasn't the best
bitch in the pack: she hadn't half the nose of Gaylass."

"But, as I was saying, Armstrong, it would be a great thing to rid the
country of Barry Lynch."

"Indeed it would."

"And there'd be nothing then to prevent young Kelly marrying Anty at
once."

"Make him give his consent in writing before you let him go," said
Armstrong.

"I'll tell you what, Doctor Colligan," said Frank; "do you get into
your own gig, and follow us on, and I'll talk the matter over with Mr
Armstrong."

The doctor again returned to his buggy, and the parson to his own seat,
and Lord Ballindine drove off at a pace which made it difficult enough
for Doctor Colligan to keep him in sight.

"I don't know how far we can trust that apothecary," said Frank to his
friend.

"He's an honest man, I believe," said Armstrong, "though he's a dirty,
drunken blackguard."

"Maybe he was drunk this evening, at Lynch's?"

"I was wrong to call him a drunkard. I believe he doesn't get drunk,
though he's always drinking. But you may take my word for it, what he's
telling you now is as true as gospel. If he was telling a lie from
malice, he'd be louder, and more urgent about it: you see he's half
afraid to speak, as it is. He would not have come near you at all, only
his conscience makes him afraid to keep the matter to himself. You may
take my word for it, Ballindine, Barry Lynch did propose to him to
murder his sister. Indeed, it doesn't surprise me. He is so utterly
worthless."

"But murder, Armstrong! downright murder; of the worst kind;
studied--premeditated. He must have been thinking of it, and planning
it, for days. A man may be worthless, and yet not such a wretch as that
would make him. Can you really think he meant Colligan to murder his
sister?"

"I can, and do think so," said the parson. "The temptation was great:
he had been waiting for his sister's death; and he could not bring
himself to bear disappointment. I do not think he could do it with his
own hand, for he is a coward; but I can quite believe that he could
instigate another person to do it."

"Then I'd hang him. I wouldn't raise my hand to save him from the
rope!"

"Nor would I: but we can't hang him. We can do nothing to him, if he
defies us; but, if he's well handled, we can drive him from