for marriage, he could not marry my daughter, I say again, so long as he
remains a Papist."

"Unless he might prevail on her to turn Papist."

"By the life of my body, Sir Robert, I won't stand this. Did you come
here, sir, to insult me and to drive me into madness? What devil could
have put it into your head that my daughter, sir, or any one with a drop
of my blood in their veins, to the tenth generation, could ever, for a
single moment, think of turning Papist? Sir, I hoped that you would have
respected the name both of my daughter and myself, and have foreborne to
add this double insult both to her and me. The insolence even to dream
of imputing such an act to her I cannot overlook. You yourself, if you
could gain a point or feather your nest by it, are a thousand times much
more likely to turn Papist than either of us. Apologize instantly, sir,
or leave my house."

"I can certainly apologize, Mr. Folliard," replied the baronet, "and
with a good conscience, inasmuch as I had not the most remote intention
of offending you, much less Miss Folliard--I accordingly do so promptly
and at once; but as for my allegations against Reilly, I am in a
position to establish their truth in the clearest manner, and to prove
to you that there wasn't a. single robber, nor Rapparee either, at or
about your house last night, with the exception of Reilly and his gang.
If there were, why were they neither heard nor seen?"

"One of them was--the Red Rapparee himself."

"Do not be deceived, Mr. Folliard; did you yourself, or any of your
family or household, see him?"

"Why, no, certainly, we did not; I admit that."

"Yes, and you will admit more soon. I shall prove the whole conspiracy."

"Well, why don't you then?"

"Simply because the matter must be brought about with great caution.
You--must allow me a few days, say three or four, and the proofs shall
be given."

"Very well, Sir Robert, but in the meantime I shall not throw Reilly
overboard."

"Could I not be permitted to pay my respects to Miss Folliard before I
go, sir?" asked Sir Robert.

"Don't insist upon it," replied her father; "you know perfectly well
that she--that you are no favorite with her."

"Nothing on earth, sir, grieves me so much," said the baronet, affecting
a melancholy expression of countenance, which was ludicrous to look at.

"Well, well," said the old man, "as you can't see her now, come and meet
Reilly here at dinner the day after to-morrow, and