“Parole? Oh, yes, of course; I know the thing you mean now. I’ll give it, certainly--swear it if you like. And now, like a good man, tell your fair-haired pirate to get off my legs. He’s hurting my left ankle abominably.” Mr. Red gave an order, and Dr. O’Grady was allowed to stand up. “Now for the cell,” he said. “I know this house pretty well, and I should suggest that you give me the two rooms on the top floor which open into each other. And look here, Emperor, I’m a first-class political prisoner, of course. I’m not going to do any hard labour, or get out of bed before I want to in the morning. I must be decently fed, and supplied with tobacco. You agree to all that I suppose?” “Lead the prisoner upstairs,” said Mr. Red. “One minute,” said Dr. O’Grady. “We haven’t settled yet about my fee. Let me see, what would you say--my time is valuable, you know. I have a very extensive practice, including the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood; Lord Manton, for instance, and Jimmy O’Loughlin’s wife. What would you say to----? Good Lord! Emperor, put that thing down, it might go off!” Mr. Red had taken a revolver from his pocket, and pointed it at Dr. O’Grady’s head. “Lead the prisoner upstairs,” he said. “I’m going all right,” said Dr. O’Grady. “But, like a good man, put down that pistol. I dare say it’s not loaded, and I’m sure you don’t mean to pull the trigger; but it makes me feel nervous. If you injure me you will be in a frightful fix. There isn’t another doctor nearer than Ballymoy, and he’s no good of a surgeon. Do be careful.” Mr. Red took no notice of this remonstrance. He held the revolver at arm’s length, pointed straight at Dr. O’Grady’s head. The doctor turned quickly and walked upstairs. He was ushered into a large empty room, and bidden to stand in a corner of it. Still covered by the threatening revolver he watched various preparations made, first for his security, then for his comfort. There were two windows in the room. The black-bearded foreigner nailed barbed wire across them in such a way as to make an entanglement through which it was impossible to thrust even a hand. “That’s quite unnecessary,” said Dr. O’Grady. “I’m familiar with this house, have been over it half a dozen times with Lord Manton, and I know that there’s a sheer drop of thirty feet out of those windows on to the paved yard at the back of the house. I shouldn’t dream of trying to jump out.” Mr. Red stood with the revolver in his hand glaring at Dr. O’Grady. His two assistants left the room. “I do wish,” said the doctor plaintively, “that you’d put that gun down.”