eauty."

"It's Martin!" I exclaimed, confirmed more than ever in my suspicions
of foul play. "Show me Mr Shannon's house, like a decent man," said I
to mine host.

"There'll be no one stirring there at this hour. His honour's away with
Mr Gorman, and the women folks will be a-bed long since."

"Never mind about that," said I; "show me the house."

The landlord grumblingly turned out and walked with me to the Hall,
which was some half-mile beyond the village.

"Yonder's the house," said he, stopping short, and pointing to a clump
of trees just discernible in the darkness. "You'll not be wanting me
further?"

I hastened on, and was presently knocking loudly at the door of the
Hall. The house was quite dark, and every one had evidently retired for
the night. Nearly ten minutes elapsed before a window opened, and a
surly voice called out,--

"Well? Who's there, disturbing decent folk at this hour?"

"A messenger from Mr Gorman. Is the young lady at home? I must see
her instantly."

"Young leddy! There's none younger than the mistress, and she sleeps at
night like a decent woman."

"Has Miss Gorman gone, then?" I exclaimed.

"Why not, when she was sent for?"

"Who sent for her? When did she go? Where has she gone? Let me in, I
say. There's foul play, and I must see your mistress instantly."

My agitation succeeded in convincing the fellow that something was
amiss, and he put in his head and presently unbarred the front door.

"Mercy on us! what's the meaning of all this?" said the old man-servant
as I stepped into the hall.

"Let me see Mrs Shannon," said I.

"What is it?" said a voice on the stairs before the butler could answer.

I explained my mission, and inquired if it was true that Miss Kit had
already departed.

"To be sure," said the lady. "Mr Gorman's groom, Martin, rode over
from Knockowen this evening with a message--"

"Written?" I interrupted.

"No; Mr Gorman was too busy to write. It was to say that a passage had
been taken for Miss Kit and a maid on a brig that happened to be lying
off the Five Fingers; and that, as he found the ship was to sail for
Dublin with the flood to-night, he had sent over Martin to see her
safely on board. I confess it seemed a little unusual; and Miss Kit was
very reluctant to start on such short notice, saying it had been
arranged she was to travel overland by way of Derry. But tell me,
what's amiss?"

"Foul play; nothing less!" cried