me; besides, its contents might distress her. I will say nothing about it, to her, for the present," he added, folding the letter and locking it up in a safe place.

66

Nugent entered, much improved in appearance, as the President was returning the key to his pocket; and inquired particularly for Miss Norreys. Nugent," said Sir Thomas, addressing him with suppressed passion, "I am sorry to have good reason for believing you to be a black and most damnable traitor."

The first part of this sentence was delivered in calm, measured terms, like the deliberate and firm tread of British soldiers, advancing, with pointed bayonets and reserved fire, to the teeth of the enemy; but the words "black and damnable traitor" were awful" charges" and tremendous explosions.

Nugent was staggered and driven back by them. He turned pale and hesitated, but at length rallied, and summoned sufficient courage to ask, “On whose authority, Sir Thomas, do you make these charges against me ?"

"On the authority of an honourable man, and a high-minded nobleman, James Fitz-Thomas, the Earl of Desmond."

"On the word of your escaped prisoner? What says he ?"

"That matters not, sir."

"But it does matter, Sir Thomas," replied Nugent, with increasing boldness; "for you have made charges against me which demand better proof than you have yet given."

"I desire no better evidence than the word of an honourable man and a high-minded nobleman."

"You did not, Sir Thomas, always speak of your informant in this high-flown style. He was once a rebel—a damnable traitor—and, at best, a Sugane Earl, or man of straw."

"Bandy not words with me, sir; for by whatever name I may have called him, I hold you, for the future, as a false friend and perjured traitor. There, I believe, is the sum I owe you for your services; take it and depart, and let me never see your face within these castle walls again."

Nugent looked at the money-fifty crownswhich the Lord President had laid upon the table, and first thought of leaving them there; but revenge was stronger within his heart than pride, and he bethought him that the money might enable him to gratify that passion: he therefore took up the fifty crowns, and walked out, muttering, as he left the room, "We shall meet outside the castle walls, Sir Thomas; and when we do-____"

CHAPTER II.

'Hereditary bondsmen, know ye not,

Who would be free, themselves must strike the blow? By their right arms the conquest must be bought."

BYRON.

JOHN NUGENT had not left the castle more than three weeks, when Sir Thomas heard that a young man, named Thomas Burke-brother of the Baron of Castleconnell-had left the Queen's service and joined the rebels, who were lying in force near Clanwilliam, in Tipperary. Thither Sir Thomas hastened, with an army of two thousand infantry and two hundred horse; when he, for the first time, crossed swords with the Earl of Desmond, who drove him back, and took a number of his people prisoners. In retreating, with a force reduced to twelve hundred men, he fell into an ambush at Kilteele, where he received his death wound. Some of the chroniclers of these Irish wars state he was "struck by the thrust of a pike, which he received beneath the jaw-bone, by a young man, named John Burke." There is no doubt he was wounded in the jaw by a pike; but

he received the death blow from the hand of Nugent, who thrust his dagger into the back of his neck.

He was carried home, where he lingered in great agony for three weeks; his daughter watching over him with tender affection, both night and day. A few days before he died, he called her to his side, and thus addressed her: "Bessy, it seems to be the will of God, that I should die of this wound. Before I leave you, I should like to see you married."

"Oh, father!" said the weeping girl, "do not think of such a thing, now."

"But, Bessy, my child, I should die happy if I saw you the wife of a kind and brave man, who would watch over you. I fear for you, my child, while that demon, Nugent, goes about, like a destroying spirit; I know it was from his hand that I received my death-wound."

"What makes you think so, father?"

"It appears like a dream, for I was stunned and insensible by the fall from my horse, and weak from loss of blood; but still I know I was not dreaming. As I lay upon my back on the road I could almost swear that it was he, for

"Well, father?”

"I was almost blind, but the moon was shining as I saw his dark face bending over me. I knew

him by his large white teeth and long black hair, which seemed to touch my face. I felt his very breath upon me, as he stooped down to see if I was dead."

Elizabeth raised her hand to her eyes to shut out the horrible vision, so like her dream.

"I believe Captain Jephson is now in Limerick ; was it not there you heard from him last?” inquired the wounded knight.

"Yes."

"Well, my child, write to him at once, and tell him to come hither, without delay; that I want to see him, on an affair of importance, before I die. Go now, and write the letter."

Captain Jephson, on receipt of the letter, hastened to the death-bed of the Lord President of Munster. Sir Thomas had only strength enough left to place his daughter's hand within that of the young soldier, and to say to him :—

"Jephson, I have left you, with this girl, all I possess in the world.* I commit her to your care; watch over her. Bessy, kiss me. God bless you

both, my children."

He died about an hour after this, in Mallow Castle.†

The good news of Sir Thomas Norreys' death was

*See Note A at end of volume. † See Note B.