He looked hard at me. "You are not John Cassidy?" said he. Then I told him the story of my adventure in the wood near Morlaix, and how I delivered the letters of his dead messenger in Paris. He clapped me on the back. "You are a good fellow," said he, "and I thank you. Little came of my letters; but that was no fault of yours. So you are one of us in Donegal?" "No, my lord," said I. "I am here on false pretences, though not wholly of my own accord. I cannot expect you to be troubled with my explanations, but they are at your service if you require them. If not, here I am at your mercy." He looked at me suspiciously for a moment, then he smiled. "Walk a little way home with me," said he. So I followed him out, the members present saluting as he passed through them, and wondering, no doubt, what high official of the society was this whom the leader of Ireland chose thus to honour. "Now," said Lord Edward, as we got to the end of the street, "what is this mystery?" "Shortly, my lord, I am in love," began I. He laughed pleasantly at that. "There we agree entirely," said he. "I am a servant to his Majesty, and have sworn him allegiance," I continued. "His Majesty has more than he deserves." "I am a sailor, sir, on leave. I arrived only yesterday in Dublin after four years' absence. To-morrow (unless you or your society shoot me through the head) I start northward, hoping to get a glimpse of her I love. By chance to-day I heard her father's name mentioned in the street as a man whose life was in peril. In a weak moment I so far forgot my duty to my king as to pass myself off to my informant as a United Irishman, in the hope of obtaining information which might enable me to help him." "I trust you got it," said his lordship. "I did not," said I; "the Provincial Directory of Ulster is to deal with the case." Lord Edward stopped short. "You don't mean--" began he, and stopped. "I mean that I love Maurice Gorman's daughter--a hopeless quest perhaps--but the prize--" "The most charming lady in Ireland," said he. "Your name is Barry, I believe?" "Barry Gallagher, my lord." "Are you a kinsman of Tim Gallagher of Fanad?" "Twin-brother. Is he alive then?" and in my eagerness I seized his lordship's arm. He did not resent the liberty at all. "He is, and is a trusty member of our society, as I hope you will be even yet." "Pardon me," said I; "had Tim been dead, I promised him to fight for Ireland. As it is, I am bound to my king." "Well," said he, with a shrug, "that is no concern of mine. As to your spying on our meeting--all's fair in love and war. You will, no doubt, make use of what you have heard against us."