re of
humanity, brotherhood, progress, what you please? My opinion is that the
dead weight there could not be moved. The late war and the English share
in it are too fresh in the public mind. The outlook to me is utterly
against your scheme."

"It might be objected to your view that feeling is too strong an element
of it," said the Cabinet Minister.

"Feeling has only to do with my share in the scheme," Birmingham
replied. "As an Irishman I would not further it, yet I might be glad to
see it succeed. My opinion is concerned with the actual conditions as I
see them."

With this remark the formal discussion ended. Mortified at this outcome
of his plans, Lord Constantine could not be consoled.

"As long as Livingstone is on your side, Conny," said Arthur, "you are
foredoomed."

"I am not so sure," His Lordship answered with some bitterness. "The
Chief Justice of the United States is a good friend to have."

A thrill shot through Dillon at this emphasis to a rumor hitherto too
light for printing. The present incumbent of the high office mentioned
by Lord Constantine lay dying. Livingstone coveted few places, and this
would be one. In so exalted a station he would be "enskied and sainted."
Even his proud soul would not disdain to step from the throne-room of
Windsor to the dais of the Supreme Court of his country. And to strike
him in the very moment of his triumph, to snatch away the prize, to
close his career like a broken sentence with a dash and a mark of
interrogation, to bring him home like any dead game in a bag: here would
be magnificent justice!

"Have I found thee, O mine enemy?" Arthur cried in his delight.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE CATHEDRAL.

Ledwith was dying in profound depression, like most brave souls, whose
success has been partial, or whose failure has been absolute. This
mournful ending to a brave, unselfish life seemed to Arthur pitiful and
monstrous. A mere breathing-machine like himself had enjoyed a
stimulating vengeance for the failure of one part of his life. Oh, how
sweet had been that vengeance! The draught had not yet reached the
bottom of the cup! His cause for the moment a ruin, dragged down with
Fenianism; his great enemy stronger, more glorious, and more pitiless
than when he had first raised his hand against her injustice; now the
night had closed in upon Ledwith, not merely the bitter night of
sickness and death and failure, but that more savage night of
despondency, which st