Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) THE RED HAND OF ULSTER BY G. A. BIRMINGHAM AUTHOR OF "SPANISH GOLD," "THE MAJOR'S NIECE," "PRISCILLA'S SPIES," ETC. HODDER & STOUGHTON NEW YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY Copyright, 1912, By George H. Doran Company UNIFORM EDITION _of the_ WORKS _of_ G. A. BIRMINGHAM _Each, net $1.20_ LALAGE'S LOVERS SPANISH GOLD THE SEARCH PARTY THE SIMPKINS PLOT THE MAJOR'S NIECE PRISCILLA'S SPIES THE RED HAND OF ULSTER GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY NEW YORK PREFATORY NOTE In a book of this kind some of the characters are necessarily placed in the positions occupied by living men; but no character is in any way copied from life, and no character must be taken as representing any real person. Nor must the opinions of Lord Kilmore of Errigal, the imaginary narrator of the tale, be regarded as those of the Author. G. A. B. INTRODUCTORY NOTE BY LORD KILMORE OF ERRIGAL The events recorded in this chapter and the next did not fall under my own observation. I derived my knowledge of them from various sources, chiefly from conversations with Bob Power, who had, as will appear, first-hand knowledge. In the third chapter I begin my own personal narrative of the events which led up to the final struggle of Ulster against Home Rule and of the struggle itself. Accidents of one kind or another, the accidents of the situation of Kilmore Castle, the accident of Bob Power's connection with my daughter Marion, the accidents of my social position and personal tastes, have placed me in a position to give a very full account of what actually happened. The first two chapters of this book will therefore be written in the impersonal manner of the ordinary history; I myself occupying the position of unseen spectator. The rest of the book is largely founded upon the diary which I actually kept. THE RED HAND OF ULSTER CHAPTER I It was in 1908 that Joseph Peterson Conroy burst upon London in the full magnificence of his astounding wealth. English society was, and had been for many years, accustomed to the irruption of millionaires, American or South African. Our aristocracy has learnt to pay these potentates the respect which is their due. Well-born men and women trot along Park Lane in obedience to the hooting calls of motor horns. No one considers himself degraded by grovelling before a plutocrat.