"Nonsense, man--he's the steward of a Clyde smack, or a clerk in a counting-house," said the first, in a voice which, though purposely low, my quick hearing could catch perfectly. "Are we far from Letterkenny just now, sir?" said the other, addressing me. "I believe about five miles," said I, with a prodigious effort to make my pronunciation pass muster. "You're a stranger in these parts, I see, sir," rejoined he, with a cunning glance at his friend, while he added, lower, "Was I right, Hill?" Although seeing that all concealment was now hopeless, I was in no wise disposed to plead guilty at once, and therefore, with a cut of my switch, pushed my beast into a sharp canter to get forward. My friends, however, gave chase, and now the jaunting-car, notwithstanding the sufferings of the invalid, was clattering after me at about nine miles an hour. At first I rather enjoyed the malice of the penalty their curiosity was costing, but as I remembered that the invalid was not the chief offender, I began to feel compunction at the severity of the lesson, and drew up to a walk. They at once shortened their pace, and came up beside me. "A clever hack you're riding, sir," said the inquisitive man. "Not so bad for an animal of this country," said I, superciliously. "Oh, then, what kind of a horse are you accustomed to?" asked he, half insolently. "The Limousin," said I, coolly, "what we always mount in our Hussar regiments in France." "And you are a French soldier, then?" cried he, in evident astonishment at my frankness. "At your service, sir," said I, saluting; "a Lieutenant of Hussars; and if you are tormented by any further curiosity concerning me, I may as well relieve you by stating that I am proceeding to Lord Cavan's head-quarters, to surrender as a prisoner." "Frank enough, that!" said he of the broken leg, laughing heartily as he spoke. "Well, sir," said the other, "you are, as your countrymen would call it, '_bien venu_,' for we are bound in that direction ourselves, and will be happy to have your company." One piece of tact my worldly experience had profoundly impressed upon me, and that was, the necessity of always assuming an air of easy unconcern in every circumstance of doubtful issue. There was quite enough of difficulty in the present case to excite my anxiety, but I rode along beside the jaunting-car, chatting familiarly with my new acquaintances, and, I believe, without exhibiting the slightest degree of uneasiness regarding my own position.