Again a volley of oaths flew from him.

In council with James McMurrough he might have arranged a plan of
action; at least, he would have learned from him what Payton knew. But
James's absence ruined all. In the end, after waiting some time in the
vain hope that he would appear, Asgill went in to supper.

Colonel Sullivan was not there; he was in no condition to descend. Nor
was Flavia; whereon Asgill reflected, with chagrin, that probably she
was attending upon the invalid. Payton was at table, with the two
O'Beirnes, and three other buckeens. The Englishman, amused and
uplifted by the discovery he had made, was openly disdainful of his
companions; while the Irishmen, sullen and suspicious, were not aware
how much he knew, nor all of them how much there was to know. If The
McMurrough chose to imprison his strange and unpopular kinsman, it was
nothing to them; nor a matter into which gentlemen eating at his table
and drinking his potheen and claret were called upon to peer too
closely.

The position was singular; for the English officer, partly by virtue of
his mission and partly by reason of the knowledge he had gained,
carried himself as if he held that ascendency in the house which
Colonel Sullivan had enjoyed--an ascendency, like his, grudged and
precarious, as the men's savage and furtive glances proved. But for his
repute as a duellist they would have picked a quarrel with the visitor
there and then. And but for the presence of his four troopers in the
background they might have fallen upon him in some less regular
fashion. As it was, they sat, eating slowly and eyeing him askance;
and, without shame, were relieved when Asgill entered. They looked to
him to clear up the situation and put the interloper in his right
place. At any rate, the burden was now lifted from their shoulders.

"I'm fearing I'm late," Asgill said, as he took his seat. "Where'll The
McMurrough be, I wonder?"

"Gone to meet your friend, I should think," Payton replied with a
sneer.

Asgill maintained a steady face. "My friend?" he repeated. "Oh, Colonel
Sullivan?"

"Yes, your friend who was to return to-day," the other retorted. "Have
you seen anything of him?" he continued, with a grin.

Asgill fixed his eyes steadily on Payton's face. "I'm fancying you have
the advantage of me," he said. "More by token, I'm thinking, Major, you
have seen that same friend already."

"Maybe I have."

"And had a bout with him?"

"Eh?"

"And,