peal, you must crush the Church and smash the bitter
Protestants. The Whigs will do these for us, but we must help them. Do you
understand me now?'

'I believe I do. In the case you speak of, then, the Government will
support my election.'

'Against a Tory, yes; but not against a pure Whig--a thorough-going
supporter, who would bargain for nothing for his country, only something
for his own relations.'

'If your project has an immense fascination for me at one moment, and
excites my ambition beyond all bounds, the moment I turn my mind to the
cost, and remember my own poverty, I see nothing but hopelessness.'

'That's not my view of it, nor when you listen to me patiently, will it, I
believe, be yours. Can we have another talk over this in the evening?'

'To be sure! we'll dine here together at six.'

'Oh, never mind me, think of yourself, Mr. Kearney, and your own
engagements. As to the matter of dining, a crust of bread and a couple of
apples are fully as much as I want or care for.'

'We'll dine together to-day at six,' said Dick, 'and bear in mind, I am
more interested in this than you are.'

CHAPTER XXVII

A CRAFTY COUNSELLOR

As they were about to sit down to dinner on that day, a telegram,
re-directed from Kilgobbin, reached Kearney's hand. It bore the date of
that morning from Plmnuddm Castle, and was signed 'Atlee.' Its contents
were these: 'H. E. wants to mark the Kilgobbin defence with some sign of
approval. What shall it be? Reply by wire.'

'Read that, and tell us what you think of it.'

'Joe Atlee at the Viceroy's castle in Wales!' cried the other. 'We're going
up the ladder hand over head, Mr. Kearney! A week ago his ambition was
bounded on the south by Ship Street, and on the east by the Lower Castle
Yard.'

'How do you understand the despatch?' asked Kearney quickly.

'Easily enough. His Excellency wants to know what you'll have for shooting
down three--I think they were three--Irishmen.'

'The fellows came to demand arms, and with loaded guns in their hands.'

'And if they did! Is not the first right of a man the weapon that defends
him? He that cannot use it or does not possess it, is a slave. By what
prerogative has Kilgobbin Castle within its walls what can take the life of
any, the meanest, tenant on the estate?'

'I am not going to discuss this with you; I think I have heard most of it
before, and was not impressed when I did so. What I asked was, what sort of
a recogn