“Ah! I see it all, and the American packet does not sail till to-morrow morning from Liverpool.” “But it may all be false,” said Darcy. “Who writes you this story?” “It is signed 'F.,' and Freney is the man; I know the fellow that brought it.” “I 'll not believe a word of it, Bagenal,” said the Knight, impetuously. “I 'll not credit the calumny of a highwayman against the honor of one I have known and respected for years. It is false, depend upon it.” “Yet how it tallies with Sandy's tidings; there is something in it. Hush! Darcy, don't speak; there is some one passing.” The sounds of feet and voices were heard at the same instant without, and among them the clear, distinctive accents of Hickman O'Reilly. “Yes,” said he, “if the news had come a little earlier, Lord Castlereagh, would have found some of our patriots less stern in virtue. Gleeson will have carried away half a province with him.” “There,” whispered Daly, “you heard that,--the news is about already.” But Darcy was now totally overcome, and, with his head resting on the table, neither spoke nor stirred. “Bagenal,” said he, at length, but in a voice faint as a whisper, “I am too ill to face the House; let us turn homewards.” “I 'll see for a carriage,” said Daly, who issued forth to take the first he could find. “I say, Hamilton,” cried a member, as he alighted from his chariot, “there's the Knight of Gwynne and Bagenal Daly in Castlereagh's carriage.” “Daly said he could drive a coach-and-six through the Bill!” replied the other; “perhaps he's gone to practise with a pair first.” CHAPTER XX. THE ADJOURNED DEBATE Although the debate had commenced at seven o'clock, none of the great speakers on either side arose before eleven. Some fierce skirmishes had, indeed, occurred; personalities and sarcasms the most cutting had been interchanged with a freedom that showed that if shame were in a great measure departed, personal daring and intrepidity were qualities still in repute. The Ministerial party, no longer timid or wavering, took no pains to conceal their sense of coming victory, and even Lord Castlereagh, usually so guarded on every outward observance, entered the House and took his seat with a smile of conscious triumph that did not escape observation from either friends or opponents. The tactics of the Treasury benches, too, seemed changed: not waiting, as hitherto, to receive and repel the attack of the Opposition, they now became themselves the assailants, and evinced, by the readiness and frequency of their assaults, the perfect organization they had attained. The Opposition members, who opened the debate, were suffered to proceed without any attempt at reply, an ironical cheer, a well-put question, some home-thrust as to former opinions, alone breaking the thread of an argument which, even from its monotony, was becoming less effective.