en should embark for Hamburg,
and proceed on to Petersburg, Joey to go with them as their little
valet.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

AN EXPEDITION, AS OF YORE, ACROSS THE WATERS FOR A WIFE.

The first step taken by O'Donahue was to obtain a passport for himself
and suit; and here there was a controversy, McShane having made up his
mind that he would sink the officer, and travel as O'Donahue's servant,
in which capacity he declared that he would not only be more useful, but
also swell his friend's dignity. After a long combat on the part of
O'Donahue, this was consented to, and the passport was filled up
accordingly.

"But, by Saint Patrick! I ought to get some letters of introduction,"
said O'Donahue; "and how is that to be managed--at all events to the
English ambassador? Let me see--I'll go to the Horse Guards."

O'Donahue went accordingly, and, as was always the case there, was
admitted immediately to an audience with the Commander of the Forces.
O'Donahue put his case forward, stating that he was about to proceed on
a secret mission to Russia, and requested his Royal Highness to give him
a few letters of introduction. His Royal Highness very properly
observed, that if sent on a secret mission, he would, of course, obtain
all the necessary introductions from the proper quarters, and then
inquired of O'Donahue what his rank was, where he had served, etcetera.
To the latter questions O'Donahue gave a very satisfactory reply, and
convinced the Duke that he was an officer of merit. Then came the
question as to his secret mission, which his Royal Highness had never
heard of. "May it please your Royal Highness, there's a little mistake
about this same secret mission; it's not on account of government that
I'm going, but on my own secret service;" and O'Donahue, finding himself
fairly in for it, confessed that he was after a lady of high rank, and
that if he did not obtain letters of introduction, he should not
probably find the means of entering the society in which she was to be
found, and that as an officer who had served faithfully, he trusted that
he should not be refused.

His Royal Highness laughed at his disclosure, and, as there was no
objection to giving O'Donahue a letter or two, with his usual
good-nature he ordered them to be written, and having given them to him,
wished him every success. O'Donahue bowed to the ground, and quitted
the Horse Guards, delighted with the success of his impudent attempt.