Mark me, I will place Tom Corrigan--you know him--at this window, and if you happen to see anything in the shape of a human being, or to hear, for instance, any noise, give the slightest possible tap upon the glass, and that will be sufficient." It was so arranged, and Reilly entered the house; but, as it happened, Fergus's office proved a sinecure; although, indeed, when we consider his care and anxiety, we can scarcely say so.

At all events, Reilly returned in about half an hour, bearing under his arm a large dark portfolio, which, by the way, was securely locked.
"Is all right ?" asked Fergus.
"All is right," replied the other.

"The servants have entered into an arrangement to sit up, two in turn each night, so as to be ready to give me instant admittance whenever I may chance to come." "But now where are you to place these papers ?" asked his companion.
"That's a difficulty." "It is, I grant," replied Reilly, "but after what has happened, I think widow Buckley's cabin the safest place for a day or two.

Only that the hour is so unseasonable, I could feel little difficulty in finding a proper place of security for them, but as it is, we must only deposit them for the present with the widow." The roads of Ireland at this period--if roads they could be called--were not only in a most shameful, but dangerous, state.

In summer they were a foot deep with dust, and in winter at least eighteen inches with mud.
This, however, was by no means the worst of it.