's quieter," said he, drawing me into a side street,
"and I'll tell you. I've no commission, mind you, but I'll undertake to
say your candour will be worth a couple of hundred pounds in your pocket
within twenty-four hours."

"Go on," said I, feeling my toes tingling to kick this man, who could
suppose Tim Gallagher a common informer.

"It's known you're lately returned from Paris," said he, "with an
important message from the rebel leaders there, and that that message
concerns among other things the coming French invasion."

"Well?"

"Well! can you ask? It is presumed the leaders in Dublin know your news
by this time, and are making arrangements accordingly. If so, it is
worth a couple of hundred pounds to you, as I said, to let me know what
is going forward."

"And if not?"

"Simply that a warrant is out for the arrest of Timothy Gallagher, at
present in Dublin disguised as a naval officer, and it rests with me to
put it into motion. So come," said he, halting and facing me, "make up
your mind."

We had now reached the end of the street, which was a deserted one,
backing on the Park. It had been all I could do to keep myself within
bounds and refrain from knocking this contemptible cur on the head.
Prudence, and a desire to learn something more about Tim alone had
restrained me.

Now that, one way or another, the matter was come to an issue, I
hesitated as to what I should do. Either I might put him off, and
invent a story to please him, or I might refuse to answer anything, or I
might convince him of his mistake, or I might run for it. In the first
case, I should be acting unfairly to Tim; in the other cases, I should
be risking my own liberty at a time I particularly needed it. Suddenly
a fifth course opened before me. At the end of the street was a coach-
house, the door of which stood open, and the key on the outside. It had
evidently been left thus by a careless groom, for the place was empty
and no one was in sight.

Quick as thought I caught my man by the scrag of his neck and pitched
him head first into the stable, taking time only to say, as I drew to
the door and turned the key. "Take that from Tim Gallagher's brother,
you dog!" After which I walked away, leaving him kicking his feet sore
against the tough timbers.

I returned straight to the _Gnat_, and told Captain Felton exactly how
matters stood, requesting him to allow me to remain on board till it was
time to sail.

"Which w