Shawn, at night, seldom went unattended by several of his gang, and on this occasion he was accompanied by about a dozen of them.

His murderous mistake occasioned him to feel deep sorrow, for he was perfectly well acquainted with the amiable and generous character which Charles bore amongst his father's tenantry.

His life had been, not only inoffensive, but benevolent; whilst that of his brother--short as was the time since his return to Rathfillan House--was marked by a very licentious profligacy,--a profligacy which he attempted in vain to conceal.

Whilst Grace Davoren and Casey were attempting to staunch the blood which issued from the wound, four men, despatched by Shawn for the purpose, came, as if alarmed by Grace's shrieks, to the scene of the tragedy, and, after having inquired as to the cause of its occurrence, precisely as if they had been ignorant of it, they proposed that the only thing to be done, so as to give him a chance for life, was to carry him home without a moment's delay.

He was accordingly raised upon their shoulders, and, with more sympathy than could be expected from such men, was borne to his father's house in apparently a dying state.
It is unnecessary to attempt any description of the alarm which his appearance there created.