s
uniform, And we all know where it will be to-morrow or next day."

"That we don't, sir. You 're not aware that these spacious
thoroughfares, these wide squares, these extended terraces, are so
contrived that columns may march and manoeuvre in them, squadrons
charge, and great artillery act through them. The proudest temples of
that splendid city serve as bastions; the great Louvre itself is less a
palace than a fortress."

"Ay, ay, ay," cackled the old man, to whom these revelations opened a
new vista of thought. "But what's the use of it, after all, Davy? He
must trust somebody; and when it comes to that with anybody in life,
where 's his security, tell me that? But let us talk about home. Is it
true the Ministry is going out?"

"They're safer than ever; take my word for it, father, that these
fellows know the trick of it better than all that went before them.
They 'll just do whatever the nation and the 'Times' dictate to them;
a little slower, mayhap, than they are ordered, but they 'll do it They
have no embarrassments of a policy of any kind; and the only pretence of
a principle they possess is to sit on the Treasury benches."

"And they 're right, Davy,--they 're right," said the old man,
energetically.

"I don't doubt but they are, sir; the duty of the pilot is to take
charge of the ship, but not to decide the port she sails for."

"I wish you were one of them, Davy; they'd suit you, and you 'd suit
_them_."

"So we should, sir; and who knows what may turn up? I'm not impatient"

"That's right, Davy; that's the lesson I always taught you;
wait,--wait!"

"When did you see Driscoll, father?" asked Dunn, after a pause.

"He was here last week; he's up to his ears about that claim to the
Beecher estate, Lord--Lord--What's his--"

"Lackington."

"Yes, Lord Lackington. He says if you were once come home, you 'd get
him leave to search the papers in the Record Tower at the Castle, and
that it would be the making of himself if anything came out of it."

"He's always mare's-nesting, sir," said Dunn, carelessly.

"Faith, he has contrived to feather his own nest, anyhow," said the old
man, laughing. "He lent Lord Glengariff five thousand pounds t' other
day at six per cent, and on as good security as the Bank."

"Does he pretend to have discovered anything new with respect to that
claim?"

"He says there's just enough to frighten them, and that _your_ help--the
two of ye together--could work it well."