The O'Donoghue: Tale of Ireland Fifty Years Ago

“You appear to be greatly shocked at your suspicion, Lanty,” said Hemsworth, smiling. “Well, well; we must hope for the best; and now as to this other fellow – where and how can I see him – this Talbot I mean?”

“Ay, that’s the puzzle,” replied Lanty, with a greater appearance of ease in his manner than before. “You never can meet him when you look for him; but he’s at your elbow every day, twenty times, if you don’t want him.”

“Could you not manage a meeting for me with him, down here, Lanty? – I’ll take care of the rest.”

“I don’t think so; he’s a wary fellow; he gave me a fright once or twice already, by a word he let drop. I am not easy in his company at all.”

“False or true, he would be an immense service to us,” said Hemsworth, musingly. “If I only could see and speak with him, I’d soon convince him that he incurred no risk himself. It’s a bad sportsman shoots his decoy duck, Lanty,” and he pinched his cheek good-humouredly as he spoke. Lanty endeavoured to laugh, but the effort was a feeble one. Meanwhile, the host, now summoned for the second time, made his appearance, and by Hemsworth’s orders, the car was brought round to the door; for, severe as the night was, he determined to return to the city.

“You are coming back to town, too, Lanty?” said he, in a tone of inquiry.

“No, sir; I’m going to stop here with Billy, if your honour has no objection?”

“None whatever. Remember to let me see you on Tuesday, when I shall have every thing in readiness for your journey south – till then, good bye;” so saying, and handing Corcoran two guineas in gold, for he paid liberally, Hemsworth mounted the car, and drove off.

Lanty looked after him, till the darkness shut out the view, and then buttoning his rough coat tightly around his throat, set out himself towards town, muttering as he went – “I wish it was the last I was ever to see of you.”

CHAPTER XXXI. SOME HINTS ABOUT HARRY TALBOT

We must beg of our reader to retrace his steps once more to the valley of Glenflesk, but only for a fleeting moment. When last we left Carrig-na-curra it was at night, the party were at supper in the old tower, and Kerry stood outside, rehearsing to himself for the tenth time the manner in which he should open his communication. The sound of Mark’s voice, raised above its ordinary pitch, warned him that his mission might not be without danger, if perchance any thing on his part might offend the youth. None knew better than Kerry the violent temper of the young O’Donoghue, and how little restraint he ever put upon any scheme he thought of to vent his humour on him who crossed him. It was an account of debtor and creditor then with him, how he should act; on the one side lay the penalties, on the other the rewards of his venture – how was he to escape the one and secure the other? A moment’s reflection suggested the plan.

“I’ll not go in, divil a step, but I’ll tell I was convarsin’ with them this half hour, and that the rope and the bit of lead is a new way they do have for catching mermaids and other faymale fishes in the Bay; and sure if I only say that there’s an act of Parlimint agin doin’ it, she’ll not only believe it all, but she’ll keep the saycret to her dying bed;” and with this profound reflection on Mrs. Branagan’s character, and a face of very well got up surprise, Kerry re-entered the kitchen to announce his discovery.

It is not our intention to dwell on the scene that followed; we have merely adverted to the fact inasmuch as that on the trivial circumstance of Kerry’s resolve depended the discovery of a plot, which, if once known to M’Nab, would immediately have been communicated to the Government. The fates willed it otherwise, and when the party separated in the old tower, Sir Archy was as little satisfied concerning Talbot’s character as ever, and as eager to ascertain whence and wherefore he came, and with what intention he had made Mark’s acquaintance. With many a wily scheme for the morrow, the old man went to rest, determining to spare no pains to unravel the mystery – a fruitless resolve after all, for when day broke, Talbot and Mark were already away, many miles on the road to Dublin.

The O’Donoghue’s first act on completing his arrangements with Swaby, was to place at Mark’s disposal a sum of five hundred pounds, an amount far greater than ever the young man had at any time possessed in his life. Talbot, to whom the circumstance was told by Mark, readily persuaded him to visit Dublin, not merely for the pleasures and amusements of the capital, but that he might personally be made known to the Delegates, and see and confer with those who were the directors of the threatened rebellion.. Talbot understood perfectly the kind of flattery which would succeed with the youth, and by allusion to his ancient lineage, his more than noble blood, the rights to which he was entitled, and to which he would unquestionably be restored, not only stimulated his ardour in the cause, but bound him in a debt of gratitude to all who encouraged him to engage in it.

Mark’s character, whatever its faults, was candid and frank in every thing; he made no secret to his new friend of his present unhappiness, nor did he conceal that an unpaid debt of vengeance with respect to young Travers weighed heavily on his spirits. It was the first time in his life he had tasted the bitterness of an insult, and it worked like a deadly poison within him, sapping the springs of his health and rendering miserable the hours of his solitude; the thought rarely left him day or night, how was he to wipe out this stain? When Talbot, therefore, spoke of a visit to the capital, Mark cheerfully acceded, but rather from a secret hope that some opportunity might arise to gratify this cherished passion, than from any desire of witnessing the splendour of the metropolis; and while the one pictured the glittering scenes of festive enjoyment to which youth and money are the passports, the other darkly ruminated on the chances of meeting his enemy and provoking him to a duel.

It was on the evening of the third day after they left Carrig-na-curra that they drew near the capital, and after a promise from Mark that in every thing he should be guided by his friend, nor take any step without his counsel and advice, they both entered the city.

“You see, Mark,” said Talbot, as after passing through some of the wider and better lighted thoroughfares, they approached a less frequented and more gloomy part of the town; “you see, Mark, that the day is not come when we should occupy the place of honour, an humble and quiet hotel will best suit us for the present, but the hour is not very distant, my boy, when the proudest mansion of the capital will throw wide its doors to receive us. The Saxon has but a short tenure of it now.”

“I don’t see any reason for secrecy,” said Mark, half-doggedly, “we have good names and a good purse, why then must we betake ourselves to this gloomy and desolate quarter.”

“Because I am the guide,” said Talbot, laughing; “and, if that’s not reason enough, that’s the only one I will give you just now, but come, here we are, and I do not think you will complain of your entertainment.” And as he spoke, the carriage entered the spacious court-yard of an old fashioned inn, which, standing in Thomas-street, commanded a view of the river through one of the narrow streets leading down to the quay.

“This was the fashionable house some fifty years back,” said Talbot as he assisted his friend to alight; “and though the heyday of its youth is over, there are many generous qualities in its good old age – not your father’s cellar can boast a better bottle of Burgundy.”

Talbot’s recommendation was far from being unmerited, the “Black Jack” as the inn was named, was a most comfortable house of the old school, with large, low-ceilinged rooms, wide stairs, and spacious corridors; the whole, furnished in a style, which, though far from pretending to elegance or fashion, possessed strong claims for the tired traveller, seeking rest and repose. Here then our young travellers alighted. Talbot being received with all the courteous urbanity due to an old acquaintance; the landlord himself appearing to do the honours of the house, and welcome a valued guest.

“We must get our host, Billy Crossley, to sup with us, Mark. No one can tell us so much of how matters are doing here, for, however it happens, Billy knows all the gossip of the day, fashionable, political, or sporting, he keeps himself up to what is going forward everywhere.” And so saying, Talbot at once hastened after the landlord to secure his company for the evening.

Billy was somewhat fastidious about bestowing his agreeability in general, but on the present occasion, he acceded at once, and in less than half-an-hour, the three were seated at a meal, which would not have disgraced an hotel of more pretensious exterior. Mr. Crossley doing the honours of the table, like a host entertaining his friends.

“I scarcely had expected to see you so soon, Mr. Talbot,” said he, when the servants had left the room, and the party drew round the fire. “They told me you would pass the winter in the country.”

“So I had intended, Billy, but as good luck would have it, I made an acquaintance in the south, which changed my plans, my friend, Mr. O’Donoghue here, and as he had never seen the capital, and knew nothing of your gay doings, I thought I’d just take a run back, and show him at least, the map of the land.”

“My service to you, sir,” said Billy, bowing to Mark; “it would be hard to have got a better guide than you have in Master Harry. I can assure you, so far as wickedness goes, he’s a match for any thing here – from the Royal Barracks to Trinity College.”

“Flattery, gross flattery, Bill. I was your own pupil, and you can’t help partiality.”

“You are a most favourable specimen of private tuition, there’s no doubt of it,” said Crossley, laughing, “and I have reason to be proud of you. Did Mr. O’Donoghue ever hear of your clearing out Hancey Hennessy at hazard – the fellow that carried the loaded dice?”

“Have done, Bill. None of these absurd stories now.”

“Nor what a trick you played Corny Mehan at the spring meeting with the roan cob that knew how to limp when you wanted him? – as great a devil as himself, Mr. O’Donoghue. You’d swear the beast had a bad blood spavin if you saw him move, and he all the time a three-quarter bred horse, without a stain or a blemish about him.”

Talbot seemed for a second or two somewhat uneasy at these familiar reminiscences of his friend Crossley, not knowing precisely how Mark might take them; but when he saw that a hearty laugh was the reception they met with, he joined in the mirth as freely as the others.

“The best of all was the Wicklow steeple-chase; sorrow doubt about it, that was good fun;” and Crossley laughed till his eyes streamed again with the emotion.

“You must tell me that,” said Mark.

“It was just this: – Mister Henry there had a wager with Captain Steevens of the staff, that he’d reach the course before him, each starting at the same moment from Quin’s door at Bray. Well, what does he do, but bribes one of the boys to let him ride postillion to Steevens’ chaise, because that way he was sure to win his wager. All went right. The bluejacket and boots fitted him neatly – they were both new – got on purpose for the day; and Mr. Talbot lay snug in the stable, waiting for the chaise to be ordered round, when down comes the word, ‘Number four, two bays, you’re wanted;’ and up he jumps into the saddle, and trots round to the door, afraid of his life to look round, and keeping his chin sunk down in his cravat to hide his face. He never once looked back, but let the boys harness the cattle without saying a word.

“‘My lord says you’re to drive slow,’ said one of the boys.

“He looked round, and what did he see, but an old man in the chaise with a horse-shoe wig, and in the full dress of a bishop.

“‘Who is he at all?’ said Talbot.

“‘The Bishop of Cloyne,’ whispered the boy; ‘he’s going up to the Levee.’

“By my conscience, he is not,” said Talbot, for at that moment he spied Steevens starting from the door at a round trot, and with that he turned the bishop’s horses sharp round, laid the whip heavily over them, and took the lead towards Wicklow.

“Never such cries were heard as the bishop’s. Some say that he swore hard; but it isn’t true – he prayed, and begged, and shouted – but no use. Talbot gave them the steel at every stride; and after a long slapping gallop, he drew up at the stand-house, with a cheer that shook the course; and a fine sight it was, to gee the little man in the lawn sleeves stepping out, his face red with shame and passion.

“‘Twelve miles in forty-two minutes, my lord,’ said Talbot, showing his watch; ‘hope your lordship won’t forget the boy.’”

If Mark O’Donoghue enjoyed heartily the story, he was not the less surprised that Harry Talbot was the hero of it – all his previous knowledge of that gentleman leading him to a very different estimate of his taste and pursuits. Indeed, he only knew Talbot from his own lips, and from them he learned to regard him as the emissary despatched by the Irish party in France, to report on the condition of the insurgents in Ireland; and, if necessary, to make preparations for the French landing on the Irish shores. Mark could not well understand how any one charged with such a mission, could have either wasted his time or endangered his safety by any ridiculous adventures, and did not scruple to show his astonishment at the circumstance.

Talbot smiled significantly at the remark, and exchanged a glance with Crossley, while he answered —

“Placed in such a position as I have been for some years, Mark, many different parts have been forced upon me; and I have often found that there is no such safe mask against detection, as following out the bent of one’s humour in circumstances of difficulty. An irresistible impulse to play the fool, even at a moment when high interests were at stake, has saved me more than once from detection; and from habit I have acquired a kind of address at the practice, that with the world passes for cleverness. And so, in turn, I have been an actor, a smuggler, a French officer, an Irish refugee, a sporting character, a man of pleasure, and a man of intrigue; and however such features may have blended themselves into my true character, my real part has remained undetected. Master Crossley here might furnish a hint or two towards it; but – but, as Peachem says, ‘we could hang one another’ – eh, Bill?”

A nod and a smile, more grave than gay, was Crossley’s answer; and a silence ensued on all sides. There was a tone of seriousness even through the levity of what Talbot said, very unlike his ordinary manner; and Mark began, for the first time, to feel that he knew very little about his friend. The silence continued unbroken for some time; for while Mark speculated on the various interpretations Talbot’s words might hear, Talbot himself was reflecting on what he had just uttered. There is a very strange, but not wholly unaccountable tendency in men of subtle minds, to venture near enough to disclosures to awaken the suspicions, without satisfying the curiosity of others. The dexterity with which they can approach danger, yet not incur it, is an exercise they learn to pride themselves upon; and as the Indian guides his canoe through the dangerous rapids of the St. Lawrence – now bending to this side and to that – each moment in peril, but ever calm and collected – so do they feel all the excitement of hazard in the game of address. Under an impulse of this kind was it that Talbot spoke, and the unguarded freedom of his manner showed even to so poor an observer as Mark, that the words contained a hidden meaning.

“And our gay city of Dublin – what of it, Billy?” said he, at length rallying from his mood of thought, as he nodded his head, and drank to Crossley.

“Pretty much as you have always known it. ‘A short life and a merry one,’ seems the adage in favour here. Every one spending his money and character – ”

“Like gentlemen, Bill – that’s the phrase,” interrupted Talbot; “and a very comprehensive term it is, after all. But what is the Parliament doing?”

“Voting itself into Government situations.”

“And the Viceroy?”