e from."
"Where did you come from last, Molly?" he asked.
"Why, then," she replied, "from Jemmy Hamilton's at the foot of
Cullaniore."
"False prophetess," replied the _Cooleen Bawn_, "you have told an
untruth. I know where you came from last."
"Then where did I come from, Miss Folliard?" said the woman, with
unexpected effrontery.
"From Sir Robert Whitecraft," replied Miss Folliard, "and the wages of
your dishonesty and his corruption are the sources of your inspiration.
Take the woman away, papa."
"That will do, Molly--that will do," exclaimed the squire, "there is
something' additional for you. What you have told us is very odd--very
odd, indeed. Go and get your dinner in the kitchen."
Miss Folliard then withdrew to her own room.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock that night a carriage drew up at
the grand entrance of Corbo Castle, out of which stepped Sir Robert
Whitecraft and no less a personage than the Red Rapparee. They
approached the hall door, and after giving a single knock, it was opened
to them by the squire himself, who it would seem had been waiting to
receive them privately. They followed him in silence to his study.
Mr. Folliard, though a healthy-looking man, was, in point of fact, by
no means so. Of a nervous and plethoric habit, though brave, and even
intrepid, yet he was easily affected by anything or any person that
was disagreeable to him. On seeing the man whose hand had been raised
against his life, and what was still more atrocious, whose criminal
designs upon the honor of his daughter had been proved by his violent
irruption into her chamber, he felt a suffocating sensation of rage and
horror that nearly overcame him.
"Sir Robert," he said, "excuse me; the sight of this man has sickened
me. I got your note, and in your society and at your request I have
suffered him to come here; under your protection, too. May God forgive
me for it! The room is too close--I feel unwell--pray open the door."
"Will there be no risk, sir, in leaving the door open?" said the
baronet.
"None in the world! I have sent the servants all to bed nearly an hour
ago. Indeed, the fact is, they are seldom up so late, unless when I have
company."
Sir Robert then opened the door--that is to say, he left it a little
more than ajar, and returning again took his seat.
"Don't let the sight of me frighten you, sir," said the Rapparee. "I
never was your enemy nor intended you harm."
"Frighten me!" re
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