that can be held back from the prying impertinence of the world? And I
see no more reason why you should peril life than risk all that makes
life desirable."

"But what or where is all this peril, Fagan? You talk as if I had been
committing a murder."

"It is precisely the name they would give it in the indictment, sir,"
said the other, boldly. "Nay, hear me out, Mr. Carew. Were I to tell the
adventure of last night as the bare facts reveal it, who would suggest
the possibility of its being a duel? Think of the place--the hour--the
solitude--the mere accident of the meeting! Oh, no, sir; duels are not
fought in this fashion."

"You are arguing against yourself, Tony. You have convinced me that
there is but one course open. I must surrender myself!"

"Think well of it first, Mr. Carew," said Fagan, drawing his chair
closer, and speaking in a lower tone. "We must not let any false
delicacy deceive us. There never was a case of this kind yet that did
not less depend upon its own merits than on fifty things over which
one has no control. The temper of the judge--the rank in life of the
jury--the accidental tone of public opinion at the moment--the bias of
the press: these are the agencies to be thought of. When Grogan Hamilton
was tried for shooting John Adair in the mess-room at Carlow, his
verdict was pronounced before the jury was empanelled!"

"I never heard of that case," said my father, anxiously.

"It occurred when you were a boy at school, sir; and although the facts
would not read so condemnatory now, at that time there was not one voice
to be heard on the side of mercy. The duel, if duel it could be called,
took place after every one, save themselves, had left the table. The
quarrel was an old grudge revived over the bottle. They fought without
witnesses and with Heaven knows what inequality of weapons; and although
Hamilton gave himself up----"

"He gave himself up?" interrupted my father.

"Yes, sir; in direct opposition to his friends' advice, he did so:
but had he followed a different course,--had he even waited till
the excitement had calmed down a little, till men began to talk more
dispassionately on the subject, the result might have been different."

"And what was the result?"

"I have already told you, sir,--a conviction."

"And what followed?"

"He was hanged,--hanged in front of the old jail at Naas, where the
regiment he once had served in was quartered. I don't know how or why
this was