Summoning others to his aid, Goring succeeded in lifting him up and
placing him on a bed. A few drops of blood that issued from his mouth,
and his heavy snoring respiration, indicated an apoplectic seizure.
Messengers were sent in various directions to fetch a doctor. Tiernay
was absent, and it was some hours ere one could be found. Large bleeding
and quiet produced the usual effects, and towards evening Cashel's
consciousness had returned; but memory was still clouded and incoherent,
and he lay without speaking, and almost without thought.
After the lapse of about a week he was able to leave his bed and creep
about his chamber, whose altered look contributed to recall his mind to
the past. All his papers and letters had been removed; the window was
secured with iron stanchions; and policemen stood sentry at the door. He
remembered everything that had occurred, and sat down in patient thought
to consider what he should do.
He learned without surprise, but not without a pang, that of all his
friends not one had remained,--not one had offered a word of counsel
in his affliction, or of comfort in his distress. He asked after
Mr. Corrigan, and heard that he had quitted the country, with his
granddaughter, on the day before the terrible event. Tiernay, it was
said, had accompanied them to Dublin, and not since returned. Roland
was, then, utterly friendless! What wonder if he became as utterly
reckless, as indifferent to life, as life seemed valueless? And so was
it: he heard with indifference the order for his removal to Limerick,
although that implied a Jail! He listened to the vulgar but kindly meant
counsels of his keepers, who advised him to seek legal assistance, with
a smile of half-contempt. The obdurate energy of a martyrdom seemed
to take possession of him; and, so far from applying his mind to
disentangle the web of suspicion around him, he watched, with a strange
interest, the convergence of every minute circumstance towards the proof
of his guilt; a secret vindictiveness whispering to his heart that the
day would come when his innocence should be proclaimed; and then, what
tortures of remorse would be theirs who had brought him to a felon's
death!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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