‘Not perhaps, but certainly so. Vanity such as his has no variety. It repeats its moods over and over; but why do we talk of him? I have other things to tell you of. You know that man who came here with Dick. That Mr. ----’
‘I know--I know,’ cried the other hurriedly, ‘what of him?’
‘He joined me this morning, on my way through the bog, and drove with me to Cruhan.’
‘A strange, wayward, impulsive sort of creature--unlike any one--interesting from his strong convictions--’
‘Did he convert you to any of his opinions, Nina?’
‘You mean, make a rebel of me. No; for the simple reason that I had none to surrender. I do not know what is wrong here, nor what people would say was right.’
‘Of course I am. I was on the terrace that night when your brother told you he was Donogan--the famous Fenian Donogan. The secret was not intended for me, but I kept it all the same, and I took an interest in the man from the time I heard it.’
‘You told him, then, that you knew who he was.’
‘To be sure I did, and we are fast friends already; but let me go on with my narrative. Some excitement, some show of disturbance at Cruhan, persuaded him that what he called--I don’t know why--the Crowbar Brigade was at work and that the people were about to be turned adrift on the world by the landlord, and hearing a wild shout from the village, he insisted on going back to learn what it might mean. He had not left me long, when your late steward, Gill, came up with several policemen, to search for the convict Donogan. They had a warrant to apprehend him, and some information as to where he had been housed and sheltered.’
‘Here--with you! Gill knew it all. This, then, was the reason for that excitement we had seen in the village--the people had heard the police were coming, but for what they knew not; of course the only thought was for their own trouble.’
‘Safe so far, that I last saw him on the wide bog, some eight miles away from any human habitation; but where he is to turn to, or who is to shelter him, I cannot say.’
‘He told you there was a price upon his head?’
‘Yes, a few hundred pounds, I forget how much, but he asked me this morning if I did not feel tempted to give him up and earn the reward.’
Kate leaned her head upon her hand, and seemed lost in thought.