As

aged to get acquainted with this man | Dublin that it was not safe for Dilnich and made love to his stout daughter, to venture near the Castle, and I earproposing to marry her, after which he nestly implored him to be careful how was received by the jailer and his wife he showed himself in the street. as one of the family. He never, how- to myself, I went at once to visit ever, mentioned Fincer's name, but the viceroy, who, when I was anone day he said to his future father-in-nounced, received me with marks of law that a considerable sum of money consideration. After regretting that was due to him which he feared would certain duties were imposed on him by never be paid, as his debtor had in his fidelity to his king and to the Encurred the displeasure of the govern-glish government, he assured me that ment and had been thrown into prison. if my brother were innocent I might A little enquiry brought out the fact rely upon it he would do his best to that Fincer was this debtor, after which have him set at liberty. He declined, the jailer was easily persuaded to grant however, to hear what I wished to say Dilnich an interview with his prisoner, on his behalf, saying it was too importhat they might settle their affairs. It tant a matter to be entrusted to his ear was easy, during their conversation alone. I however obtained permission and the exchange of papers concerning to see Patrick, though only in the prestheir pretended accounts, to inform ence of a messenger of state. Fincer of the design on foot and instruct him how to play his part in it. One day Dilnich, with great joy, showed the jailer a note of hand from his prisoner, in settlement of his account in full, and consulted him as to how he might best invest the money. He said that, delighted at having got the money, and very grateful to Fincer, he would like to give him a little supper in his cell that evening. The jailer consented, and he and his daughter, Dilnich's promised bride, were the guests on the occasion. In the height of their gaiety Dilnich plunged a dagger into the jailer's breast, while Fincer threatened his daughter with the same fate if she uttered a cry. They had intended that she should take them both to the gates, and see that they passed the guard in safety; but the poor girl fainted, and they could not bring her to her senses. Fincer took the outer garments of the dead jailer, and they passed the sentinels with more ease than they expected. Relays of horses were in waiting, and before daylight they had reached the coast. "It would be a good thing," Dilnich added, as he concluded his narration, "if your brother should prove to be confined in the same tower."

This proved to be the case, but we soon found that the particulars of Fincer's escape were so widely known in

Even with this condition attached to the favor, I was glad to have obtained it. My first step was to consult Dilnich, who wished me to take my brother a thousand crowns, which at any moment he might find of use. "I can assure you," he said, "that unless your brother be indicted for high treason, there is not a living soul in all Dublin who will not, for money, do his best to set him free. I found that out when I was working for Fincer. There is so little money in Ireland that Irishmen will do anything for a handful of gold or silver; but then, such horrible executions have taken place to consolidate the authority of the English government, that people turn pale at the very mention of high treason."

He recommended me to write down this remark, and to hide the scrap of paper in the purse in which I should place the thousand crowns.

"But I am afraid my attendant will not let me give this purse to Patrick in his prison," said I.

"Then bribe him," said Dilnich. "A hundred pistoles 1 will buy up any of these people.”

I hesitated to accept this advice. My conscience revolted against bribery in the first place, and in the second, it seemed hardly fair to Sara to use her

1 A pistole was ten francs-two dollars.

money in my brother's cause, till I had | view. When I saw this I did not think ascertained what might be his senti- it would be bribery to offer him part of ments with regard to her. However, a hundred pistoles was not a large sum. I had as much as that myself. With regard to the bribery I opened my heart to Dilnich, who only laughed at my scruples and declined to argue the matter.

the sum that Dilnich had advised me to bestow on him. He received it with gratitude, and then said that, as he could perceive nothing treasonable in our discourse, he would leave us to talk over our family affairs together.

Ah, Patrick," I exclaimed, when So I went to the Castle under escort we found ourselves alone, "what I of the messenger of state. Patrick was dread is your want of firmness. This greatly moved at my solicitude. "But will weaken your defence if I am not ah!" he said, "it is not for me you by to encourage you. But, ah! I know ought to be concerned. What will be a way, if you would listen to my councome now of our sister? Who will sels, by which you could repair all our take charge of the affairs of our poor losses and misfortunes. You could George ? You do not yet know," he place Rose in safety. You could accelwent on, "all the horrors of our situa-erate the liberty of George. You could tion, or you would not think of first keep me here to work in your behalf. bringing me succor. Go at once, I en- You could restore the fortunes of our treat you, to Paris, where your pres- ancient house. You could become the ence is more needed than in Dublin. glory, the support, the head of our I trust in Heaven to make clear my family-a family which has no hope innocence." but in you. I am not painting an imaginary picture. I come here to offer you the means of doing this, and I implore you to accept them."

I was touched by his unselfishness and his family affection.

"But what," I said, "have you concealed from me, that should make the situation of George and Rose worse

I looked earnestly at Patrick as I said all this. He seemed disturbed and

at last, "which I can take without loss of honor."

than your own?" "I do not think | agitated.. "Show me a way," he said George's life is in danger," he replied, "but now that I am laid up here and can do nothing, I will no longer disguise from you how much I fear for Rose. She is virtuous; who can doubt her virtue ? She has faced all our griefs with noble firmness, but she is Dow almost without money, without means of support. The duke still keeps his eyes on her; young, trustful, inexperienced, in a foreign land and unprotected - you may imagine what I dread even to speak of. The firmest virtue needs support, and how can we feel certain what may take place at any moment."

His words filled me with vague anxiety. "Have pity, Heaven!" I cried; "do not abandon this unhappy girl! Ah, Patrick, why did you all despise my advice, and refuse to be guided by my counsels ?”

Our distress was so great that it softened the heart of the man who had been sent to be present at our inter

"Without loss of honor? "" I said. "If you have any feeling for your family; if Rose's situation moves you; if you can be touched by goodness, generosity, and anxiety to serve you, you will consider what I have to say." And I told him all about Sara: "Sara, so modest," I added, "in all her acts, so tender in her feelings. If you will take the help she offers you, I can at once succor Rose. You will be head, chief, protector, benefactor, father of your family. One word, one sign from you, will make us happy."

The emotion of Patrick was depicted on his countenance. "Have you forgotten," he said, "all I told you, only three days ago? Do you ask me to do what would unite perfidy and perjury ? Ah, brother, you must be very prompt if you desire to serve Rose. Leave at once for Paris. My innocence will be best defence."

my

It was clear that Sara had deceived | was set at liberty with apologies for my herself. She had inspired in Patrick's arrest. heart no tender feelings.

I took this as an intimation that I had better leave Dublin. I could only Things turned out as I had hoped. hope, and so I told the viceroy, that The viceroy examined our trunks, and my misfortune might prove an addifound nothing treasonable. Indeed, he tional motive for his espousing the found no paper but Fincer's letter, cause of my brother. I left his preswhich confirmed him in a belief in ence comforted by his promise, but terPatrick's innocence, and the next day Iribly unhappy, not only about George

and Rose, but about poor Sara. Her | unwilling to share with me. With re

money I hoped to replace, but for the loss of her hopes who would console her?

I thought of myself, and how it would strip me of every penny I could hope to earn during my lifetime to pay back that money. What would Sara think of me if I did not? And if I succeeded in paying Sara, by turning into money all I had, and mortgaging the revenues of my benefice, what was to become of our poor Rose? Heaven alone could help her. But might she not have forfeited her claim to Heaven's help by her worldliness and her rejection of good counsel ?

spect to Sara, he would only repeat sadly that he could say nothing but what he had said already. In vain I represented that Julie would never be restored to him, that she was in charge of a father who detested him, and who would marry her to some Protestant against her will. Patrick was immovable.

The next day I received a slip of paper on which was merely written an address. I knew what it meant, and hastened to the house, where I found Dilnich. He received me with great joy, but told me, that fearing to lose the chance of selling his land to advantage, he had already concluded his bargain, and that very day, having his

I sat pondering these things with deep sorrow in my heart, when a note was handed me. It had been brought money in hand, he had contrived to to the house by an unknown man. It was from Dilnich, as I knew at once, although it had no signature.

He knew all that had happened to me, he said. He himself was in safety, under a friend's roof. He insisted that the loss of the money was no great misfortune, and he begged me to take heart, for he had ample means to repair that loss. He was Sara's nearest relation. He had neither children nor wife. Patrick, as Sara's husband, would be his heir. He was already negotiating for the sale of a part of his estates, and with the money he received he would set right everything. The letter was. full of offers of kindness and of friendship, and ended by saying that he had sent word to Sara that he was in hiding, and that I was in prison, but he had not told her of the robbery, adding, "I think you had better be

equally discreet."

see the presiding judge of the court appointed to try charges of treason, before which Patrick would have to appear.

He had represented himself as a gentleman belonging to our family. He had ascertained that the imprisonment of Patrick might be long before his case was disposed of; and, seeing this, he had said to the judge that being aware that everything would depend upon his favor, and since all he asked was that his relative might soon be tried, there could be no reason that his Honor should feel delicacy in accepting a thousand pistoles from Patrick, in acknowledgment of his goodness in accelerating his restoration to liberty.

So the bargain was concluded. The money was paid at once, with the understanding that no offence being proved against Patrick, he was to be set at liberty before the end of the month.

"I am delighted to tell you this," said Dilnich, "and you must make it known to Patrick as soon as possible."

Alas, his generous offer of assistance only caused me further embarrassment. I answered at once that I begged him not to do anything about the sale of his property till he had seen me. Before the day ended I paid another visit to Patrick. We discussed together the "Ah, be easy," replied Dilnich. situation of poor Rose. I learned all "Sara is my heiress, and I know she he would tell me about her; but I will be grateful to me for the service I fancied I could see that he was keep-have rendered her."

"Oh, you did wrong," I cried, "to go so far without consulting me."

ing something back. Some anxiety Leaving Dilnich as soon as possible, weighed upon his mind which he was I hurried to the Castle. There I had

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