nd flung herself on the bed in a tempest of weeping, dragging a
pillow over her head as if to shield herself from the blows that the world
was aiming at her.

Phyl, without mother, brothers or sisters, had centred all her affection
on her father and Kilgobbin; the servants, the place itself and all the
things and people about it were part and parcel with her life, and the
death of her father had intensified her love of the place and the people.

If Pinckney had only known, he might have put the business of the
inspection of the property and the dealing with the servants into other
hands, but Pinckney was young and full of energy and business ability; he
was full of conscientiousness and the determination to protect his ward's
interests; he had scented a rogue in Rafferty, and at this very minute
returning to the house with Hennessey, he was declaring his intention to
make an overhaul of the working of the estate.

Rafferty was to appear before him and produce his accounts and make
explanations. Mrs. Driscoll was to be examined as to the expenditure,
etc.

He little knew the hornet's nest into which he was about to poke his
finger.

CHAPTER VII

The grand inquisition began that evening after dinner--Phyl did not appear
at dinner, alleging a headache--and Rafferty, summoned to the library, had
to stand whilst Pinckney, seated at the table with a pen in his hand and a
sheet of paper before him, went into the business of accounts.

Mark how the unexpected occurs in life. Rafferty, who had been pilfering
for years, selling garden produce and keeping the profits, robbing corn
from the corn bin in the stable, poaching and selling birds and ground
game to a dealer in Arranakilty, receiving illicit commissions and so
forth, had on the death of his master shaken off all restraint and
prepared for a campaign of open plunder. The very last thing he could have
imagined was the sudden appearance of an American business man on the
scene, armed with absolute power and possessing the eye of a hawk.

"Your master asked me just before he died to look after this estate,"
began Pinckney; "in fact, he has appointed me to act as guardian to Miss
Berknowles, so I just want to see how things stand. Now, to begin with the
horses. I want to know everything about the stables during the last--shall
we say--six months. Who supplies the corn and the hay and the straw?"

"I've been gettin' some from Faulkner of Arranakilty, sor, and s