"Pardon me," said Harry, "that is hardly probable, and, besides, that will not help the matter. In fact, it will only make it worse. For you see, if some time should elapse before such a meeting, the recollection of this affair would be so faint that I could not go into it with any spirit; whereas now I am all cocked and primed. So fire away, my dear fellow, for I really don't want to have an affair of this sort hanging over me the rest of my life. We must have it out, and now's the time." "Will you not fire first, Mr. Rivers?" said Ashby, earnestly. "Oh no, that would make all our preparations childish," was the reply. "We have appealed to Fortune, and her decision has been given." Ashby drew a long breath. "Mr. Rivers," said he, "I cannot shoot an unarmed man in cold blood." "But what can we do?" said Harry. "Why, we may be able to borrow a couple of rifles, or even one rifle, from our friends here." Upon this a voice rang out, full and clear, in the room: "Begorra, an' that same they'll do. Whoroo, lads! this bates the worruld, so it does. It's mesilf that's stud by the dure for the last tin minutes, an' I've seen a soight that I won't forget till me dyin' day. It's loike the toime whin the Irish exiles at Fontenoy marched up to the English gyards an' said, 'Gintlemen av the English Gyards, fire first!' Begorra, it's mesilf that 'ud be the proud man to lend yez the loan av a couple av guns; but don't be alarrumed, darlints--afther yez pay yer ranshom, ye'll have a chance." At the first sound of that voice Harry and Ashby started in amazement. So intent had they been on their own business that they had heard nothing; and Ashby, though facing the door, had been so intent on Harry that he had not noticed that it had been half opened. Now they saw the Carlist chief come in, followed by half a dozen of his men. Most amazing of all was the discovery that he spoke English with an Irish brogue. Katie had already mentioned this to Harry, but he had not thought much about it. Now, face to face with "His Majesty," they were able to look at him with other feelings. Had he entered under other circumstances, he would have talked Spanish; but so excited was he that he burst forth in the manner above detailed. "For ye see," said "His Majesty"-- "'Mesilf does admire the best, Av alll that's undher the sun, To stand faciu' the friend av me sowl, Wid blunderbus, pistol, or gun. The word av command it is given, The wenpon we both av us raises, Afther which--sure the one laves for home, Aa' off goes the other to blazes!'" CHAPTER XXXIV. HOW THE VIRTUOUS RUSSELL FINDS A FRIEND IN NEED. It is necessary here to go back for a brief interval in order to take up the fortunes of one who some time ago disappeared from these pages.