United States or Panama ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Luke Asgill swore horribly. But Colonel Sullivan had got the better of him once, and he was not to be duped again by this Don Quixote's mildness and love of peace. He knew him to be formidable, and he took time to consider before he acted. He waited a week and examined the matter on many sides before he took horse to see things with his own eyes.
Uncle Ulick showed his embarrassment. "Faith, I don't know that it is," he said. "If Captain Augustin paid, say, twenty per cent. on his bills of lading " "Ma foi, twenty per cent.!" the Captain exclaimed in astonishment. "Twenty but yes, I will pay it. I will pay even that. Of what use to throw the handle after the hatchet?" Luke Asgill thought the Colonel either a fool or very simple.
Meanwhile the O'Beirnes and their fellows grinned their open-mouthed admiration of the bear-tamer; and by-and-by, concluding the fun was at an end, they went out one by one, until the two men were left together. They sat some way apart, Payton brooding savagely, with his eyes on the table, Asgill toying with the things before him and from time to time glancing at the other.
Many changes corrupt loyalty, and of evil times evil men are the natural fruit. In nearly all respects Asgill was as unscrupulous a man as the time in which he lived and the class from which he sprang could show. Following in the steps of a griping, miserly sire, he had risen to his present station by oppression and chicanery; by crushing the weak and cajoling the strong.
"Well well," McMurrough made an effort to mutter he was thoroughly disconcerted "at any rate, I'm obliged to you for your warning." "You will be obliged to me," Asgill replied, resuming his ordinary manner, "if you take my warning, as to the big matter; and also as to your kinsman, John Sullivan. For, I tell you, I'm afraid of him." "Of him?" James cried. "Ay, of him.
"Sorry, I'm sure, but " "I'd have entertained you better, I'm thinking," James McMurrough said, "if I'd known you were coming before you came." "Devil a doubt of it!" said Asgill, whose subtle brain had been at work. "Not that it matters, bedad, for an Irish gentleman will do his best.
"Maybe," Asgill replied, shrugging his shoulders. "But that I've not that in my mind I'm giving you proof, James McMurrough. Isn't it I am praying you to draw out of it in time, for all our sakes? If you mean nothing but to keep sweet with your sister, you're playing with fire, and so am I! And we'd best see it's not carried too far, as it's like to be before we know it.
The others, after looking expectantly at the door for none dared treat Flavia as her brother treated her and after Asgill had said something about waiting for her, fell to also, one by one. Presently the younger of the slipshod footboys let fall a dish fortunately the whole service was of pewter, so no harm was done and was cursed for awkwardness. Where was Darby? He also had vanished.
"Colonel Sullivan," Asgill repeated, his face both darker and paler for there could be no doubt about the other's meaning "I'm thinking this is a strange liberty you're taking. And I beg to say I don't understand the meaning of it." "You wish to know the meaning of it?" "I do." "It means, sir," Colonel John replied, "that the sooner you start on your return journey the better!" Asgill stared.
It was just to swear the plot upon him; swear he'd come off the Spanish ship, and the rest, d' you see, and get him clapped in Tralee gaol in my place. More by token, I was coming to you to help in it. But I thought I'd need the girl to swear to it, and when I up and told her she was like a hen you'd take the chickens from!" Asgill was silent for a moment.
Word Of The Day