CHAPTER XI.

THE DUEL.

BREAKFAST was no sooner over, on the morning after the occurrence described in the last chapter, than young O'Dempsey appeared at Derreen. O'Dempsey was a scion of an ancient Irish family who once held large possessions in the county of Cork. He still retained a small independent patrimony, and a neat and comfortable house; but the vast proportion of the extensive territory over which his ancestors once held sway had now passed to the Bantry family. He was a tall and good-looking youth with dark hair and eyes, but having at the same time a sinister expression of countenance, which was by no means calculated to impress a stranger in his favour. He was, however, courageous, strong, and active, in the prime of early manhood, and was well known in the country as a man who was not to be insulted with impunity.

'Glad to see you, O'Dempsey,' exclaimed

Donald, on seeing his young acquaintance. 'Have you had breakfast? had breakfast? We have scarcely done ours, so I hope you will come in and join us.'

Thanks, O'Sulevan,' replied the visitor, ‘I have breakfasted long since. I hope the ladies are well,'

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They were in the breakfast-room a few moments ago,' replied O'Sulevan, ‘and a young friend of mine who is staying here, with them. Come in and allow me to introduce you.'

Excuse me, O'Sulevan,' said O'Dempsey gravely; 'a rumour has reached me which I can scarcely credit; but it came from such good authority, that I resolved to come over myself and ascertain the facts. Is it true that Teague O'Hanlon has been arrested as a Phoenix man, and on a charge of treason felony?'

I grieve to say it is quite true,' replied O'Sulevan. He was arrested, I may almost say, in my own presence, as I chanced to be on the road at the time, or at least a few minutes after the arrest was made.'

'There was no attempt at a rescue?' enquired O'Dempsey.

'None whatever,' replied Donald. 'Old Aileen O'Hanlon proposed indeed that we should

attack the police and rescue him, and that she herself would be well able for any two of them! But I need not say that we did not listen for a moment to such a wild suggestion.'

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'Was your stranger friend with you at the time of the arrest?' again demanded O'Dempsey. 'He was,' replied Donald, as also were my sisters. We were all on our return from an expedition to the old castle of Dunboy, when we chanced to light on the police in the act of carrying off Teague a prisoner. I examined the warrant myself, and it was all perfectly correct. An attempt at a rescue would have been utterly futile, as the police were all armed and equipped, and any struggle might have been attended with the most serious present as well as future consequences.'

May I ask,' said his visitor, have you watched the proceedings of your new friend closely of late? Was he at the pattern the other day, and did he not get into a quarrel

there?'

'O'Dempsey,' said Donald calmly, 'I do not understand all these questions. I am not in the habit of being so closely examined without knowing the reason why. You surely do not

mean to insinuate that my friend is otherwise. than as he states, or than as I believe?'

'I know nothing, O'Sulevan, of what he states, or what you believe. But I do know that I am not surprised at Teague's arrest, and, moreover, should not be much surprised at your own-seeing that you harbour persons in your house in times like these, whom no one knows, and an intimacy with whom may ruin our cause for ever.'

O'Sulevan was about to make an angry reply, when the stranger walked out upon the steps, and confronted O'Dempsey as he stood with Donald on the gravel, before the door.

'Gentlemen,' he said, with grave politeness, 'I could not avoid hearing some of the conversation which has just passed between you. I was in the breakfast-room, and the window, as you see, was open. Don't you think that subjects such as those you have been speaking on should be discussed with greater privacy?'

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'We are accustomed to have none but friends around us here,' replied O'Dempsey, in a tone scarcely removed from that of insult. If there be any other than friends to the cause of Ireland here, O'Sulevan will have to answer for it to those who have trusted him.'

"if

'O'Dempsey,' returned O'Sulevan haughtily, you have come here to insult me at my own house, you shall answer for it to me in person. I will ask whom I choose to my house, and neither you nor any other man shall for a moment question my right.'

"Just so,' said O'Dempsey with a sneer, just so, and the consequence is, one of our best men has been arrested. Look to yourself, O'Sulevan, that you do not soon follow in the same path.'

Gentlemen,' said the stranger calmly, it is impossible that I can misunderstand the allusions and insinuations which have been conveyed by Mr. O'Dempsey. In plain words-am I to understand that he accuses me of being the cause of Teague's arrest, and, in short, of being a secret informer or spy?'

'Mister O'Dempsey humbly thanks you for the "quickness of your comprehension," as Sir Lucius says in the play,' returned O'Dempsey, laying a stress upon the word' Mister,' and bowing low as he spoke. It is plain, at all events, you are not an Irish gentleman, or you would know better how to address the descendant of an Irish prince.'

'I see this must be my quarrel,' said the stranger, turning to O'Sulevan. I believe this