Iimmediatelyheardhisvoiceinanimatedconversation。Mycuriosityuponthesubjectoftheletterwasnaturallygreat，so，smotheringanylittlescrupleswhichI
　　mighthavefelt，Iresolvedtolookattheaddressoftheletterwhichlay，asmyhusbandhadleftit，withitsfaceuponthetable。Iaccordinglydrewitovertomeandturnedupthedirection。
　　FortwoorthreemomentsIcouldscarcebelievemyeyes，buttherecouldbenomistake——inlargecharactersweretracedthewords，’TotheArchangelGabrielinHeaven。’
　　Ihadscarcelyreturnedthelettertoitsoriginalposition，andinsomedegreerecoveredtheshockwhichthisunequivocalproofofinsanityproduced，whentheclosetdoorwasunlocked，andLordGlenfallenre-enteredthestudy，carefullyclosingandlockingthedooragainupontheoutside。
　　’Whomhaveyouthere？’inquiredI，makingastrongefforttoappearcalm。
　　’Perhaps，’saidhe，musingly，’youmighthavesomeobjectiontoseeingher，atleastforatime。’
　　’Whoisit？’repeatedI。
　　’Why，’saidhe，’Iseenouseinhidingit——theblindDutchwoman。Ihavebeenwithherthewholemorning。Sheisveryanxioustogetoutofthatcloset；butyouknowsheisodd，sheisscarcelytobetrusted。’
　　Aheavygustofwindshookthedooratthismomentwithasoundasifsomethingmoresubstantialwerepushingagainstit。
　　’Ha，ha，ha!——doyouhearher？’
　　saidhe，withanobstreperousburstoflaughter。
　　Thewinddiedawayinalonghowl，andLordGlenfallen，suddenlycheckinghismerriment，shruggedhisshoulders，andmuttered：
　　’Poordevil，shehasbeenhardlyused。’
　　’Wehadbetternotteaseheratpresentwithquestions，’saidI，inasunconcernedatoneasIcouldassume，althoughIfelteverymomentasifIshouldfaint。
　　’Humph!maybeso，’saidhe。’Well，comebackinanhourortwo，orwhenyouplease，andyouwillfindushere。’
　　Heagainunlockedthedoor，andenteredwiththesameprecautionswhichhehadadoptedbefore，lockingthedoorupontheinside；andasIhurriedfromtheroom，I
　　heardhisvoiceagainexertedasifineagerparley。
　　Icanhardlydescribemyemotions；myhopeshadbeenraisedtothehighest，andnow，inaninstant，allwasgone——thedreadfulconsummationwasaccomplished——
　　thefearfulretributionhadfallenupontheguiltyman——themindwasdestroyed——thepowertorepentwasgone。
　　TheagonyofthehourswhichfollowedwhatIwouldstillcallmyAWFUL
　　interviewwithLordGlenfallen，Icannotdescribe；mysolitudewas，however，brokeninuponbyMartha，whocametoinformmeofthearrivalofagentleman，whoexpectedmeintheparlour。
　　Iaccordinglydescended，and，tomygreatjoy，foundmyfatherseatedbythefire。
　　Thisexpeditionuponhispartwaseasilyaccountedfor：mycommunicationshadtouchedthehonourofthefamily。I
　　speedilyinformedhimofthedreadfulmaladywhichhadfallenuponthewretchedman。
　　Myfathersuggestedthenecessityofplacingsomepersontowatchhim，topreventhisinjuringhimselforothers。
　　Irangthebell，anddesiredthatoneEdwardCooke，anattachedservantofthefamily，shouldbesenttome。
　　Itoldhimdistinctlyandbrieflythenatureoftheservicerequiredofhim，and，attendedbyhim，myfatherandI
　　proceededatoncetothestudy。Thedooroftheinnerroomwasstillclosed，andeverythingintheouterchamberremainedinthesameorderinwhichIhadleftit。
　　Wethenadvancedtothecloset-door，atwhichweknocked，butwithoutreceivinganyanswer。
　　Wenexttriedtoopenthedoor，butinvain——itwaslockedupontheinside。
　　Weknockedmoreloudly，butinvain。
　　Seriouslyalarmed，Idesiredtheservanttoforcethedoor，whichwas，afterseveralviolentefforts，accomplished，andweenteredthecloset。
　　LordGlenfallenwaslyingonhisfaceuponasofa。
　　’Hush!’saidI，’heisasleep。’Wepausedforamoment。
　　’Heistoostillforthat，’saidmyfather。
　　Weallofusfeltastrongreluctancetoapproachthefigure。
　　’Edward，’saidI，’trywhetheryourmastersleeps。’
　　TheservantapproachedthesofawhereLordGlenfallenlay。Heleanthiseartowardstheheadoftherecumbentfigure，toascertainwhetherthesoundofbreathingwasaudible。Heturnedtowardsus，andsaid：
　　’Mylady，youhadbetternotwaithere；
　　Iamsureheisdead!’
　　’Letmeseetheface，’saidI，terriblyagitated；’youMAYbemistaken。’
　　Themanthen，inobediencetomycommand，turnedthebodyround，and，graciousGod!whatasightmetmyview。Hewas，indeed，perfectlydead。
　　Thewholebreastoftheshirt，withitslacefrill，wasdrenchedwithgore，aswasthecouchunderneaththespotwherehelay。
　　Theheadhungback，asitseemed，almostseveredfromthebodybyafrightfulgash，whichyawnedacrossthethroat。Theinstrumentwhichhadinflicteditwasfoundunderhisbody。
　　All，then，wasover；IwasnevertolearnthehistoryinwhoseterminationIhadbeensodeeplyandsotragicallyinvolved。
　　Theseveredisciplinewhichmymindhadundergonewasnotbestowedinvain。I
　　directedmythoughtsandmyhopestothatplacewherethereisnomoresin，nordanger，norsorrow。
　　Thusendsabrieftalewhoseprominentincidentsmanywillrecogniseashavingmarkedthehistoryofadistinguishedfamily；andthoughitreferstoasomewhatdistantdate，weshallbefoundnottohavetaken，uponthataccount，anylibertieswiththefacts，butinourstatementofalltheincidentstohaverigorouslyandfaithfullyadheredtothetruth。
　　ANADVENTUREOFHARDRESSFITZGERALD，AROYALISTCAPTAIN。
　　BeinganEleventhExtractfromtheLegacyofthelateFrancisPurcell，P。P。ofDrumcoolagh。
　　ThefollowingbriefnarrativecontainsafaithfulaccountofoneofthemanystrangeincidentswhichchequeredthelifeofHardressFitzgerald——oneofthenow-forgottenheroeswhoflourishedduringthemoststirringand，thoughthemostdisastrous，bynomeanstheleastgloriousperiodofoureventfulhistory。
　　HewasacaptainofhorseinthearmyofJames，andsharedthefortunesofhismaster，enduringprivations，encounteringdangers，andsubmittingtovicissitudesthemostgallingandruinous，withafortitudeandaheroismwhichwould，ifcoupledwithhisothervirtueshaverenderedtheunhappymonarchwhomheserved，themostillustriousamongunfortunateprinces。
　　Ihavealwayspreferred，whereIcoulddosowithanyapproachtoaccuracy，togivesuchrelationsastheonewhichIamabouttosubmittoyou，inthefirstperson，andinthewordsoftheoriginalnarrator，believingthatsuchaformofrecitationnotonlygivesfreshnesstothetale，butinthisparticularinstance，bybringingbeforemeandsteadilyfixinginmymind’seyetheveteranroyalistwhohimselfrelatedtheoccurrencewhichIamabouttorecord，furnishesanadditionalstimulanttomymemory，andaproportionatecheckuponmyimagination。
　　AsnearlyasIcanrecollectthen，hisstatementwasasfollows：
　　AfterthefatalbattleoftheBoyne，I
　　cameupindisguisetoDublin，asdidmanyinalikesituation，regardingthecapitalasfurnishingatonceagoodcentralpositionofobservation，andassecurealurking-placeasIcaredtofind。
　　Iwouldnotsuffermyselftobelievethatthecauseofmyroyalmasterwassodesperateasitreallywas；andwhileI
　　layinmylodgings，whichconsistedofthegarretofasmalldarkhouse，standinginthelanewhichrunsclosebyAudoen’sArch，Ibusiedmyselfwithcontinualprojectsfortheraisingofthecountry，andthere-collectingofthefragmentsofthedefeatedarmy——plans，youwillallow，sufficientlymagnificentforapoordevilwhodaredscarceshowhisfaceabroadinthedaylight。
　　Ibelieve，however，thatIhadnotmuchreasontofearformypersonalsafety，formen’smindsinthecityweregreatlyoccupiedwithpublicevents，andprivateamusementsanddebaucheries，whichwere，aboutthattime，carriedtoanexcesswhichourcountryneverknewbefore，byreasonoftherakingtogetherfromallquartersoftheempire，andindeedfrommostpartsofHolland，themostdissoluteanddes-
　　perateadventurerswhocaredtoplayathazardfortheirlives；andthusthereseemedtobebutlittlescrutinyintothecharactersofthosewhosoughtconcealment。
　　IheardmuchatdifferenttimesoftheintentionsofKingJamesandhisparty，butnothingwithcertainty。
　　SomesaidthatthekingstilllayinIreland；others，thathehadcrossedovertoScotland，toencouragetheHighlanders，who，withDundeeattheirhead，hadbeenstirringinhisbehoof；others，again，saidthathehadtakenshipforFrance，leavinghisfollowerstoshiftforthemselves，andregardinghiskingdomaswhollylost，whichlastwasthetrueversion，asIafterwardslearned。
　　AlthoughIhadbeenveryactiveinthewarsinIreland，andhaddonemanydeedsofnecessarybutdireseverity，whichhaveoftensincetroubledmemuchtothinkupon，yetIdoubtednotbutthatImighteasilyobtainprotectionformypersonandpropertyfromthePrinceofOrange，ifI
　　soughtitbytheordinarysubmissions；
　　butbesidesthatmyconscienceandmyaffectionsresistedsuchtime-servingconcessions，Iwasresolvedinmyownmindthatthecauseoftheroyalistpartywasbynomeansdesperate，andIlookedtokeepmyselfunimpededbyanypledgeorpromisegiventotheusurpingDutchman，thatImightfreelyandhonourablytakeashareinanystrugglewhichmightyetremaintobemadefortheright。
　　Ithereforelayquiet，goingforthfrommylodgingsbutlittle，andthatchieflyundercoverofthedusk，andconversinghardlyatall，exceptwiththosewhomI
　　wellknew。
　　Ihadlikeoncetohavepaiddearlyforrelaxingthiscaution；forgoingintoatavernoneeveningneartheTholsel，I
　　hadtheconfidencetothrowoffmyhat，andsittherewithmyfacequiteexposed，whenafellowcominginwithsometroopers，theyfella-boozing，andbeingsomewhatwarmed，theybegantodrink’Confusiontopopery，’andthelike，andtocompelthepeaceablepersonswhohappenedtositthere，tojointheminsodoing。
　　ThoughIwasratherhot-blooded，I
　　wasresolvedtosaynothingtoattractnotice；but，atthesametime，ifurgedtopledgethetoastswhichtheywerecompellingotherstodrink，toresistdoingso。
　　Withtheintenttowithdrawmyselfquietlyfromtheplace，Ipaidmyreckoning，andputtingonmyhat，wasgoingintothestreet，whenthecountrymanwhohadcomeinwiththesoldierscalledout：
　　’Stopthatpopishtom-cat!’
　　Andrunningacrosstheroom，hegottothedoorbeforeme，and，shuttingit，placedhisbackagainstit，topreventmygoingout。
　　Thoughwithmuchdifficulty，Ikeptanappearanceofquietness，andturningtothefellow，who，fromhisaccent，Ijudgedtobenorthern，andwhosefaceIknew——
　　though，tothisday，IcannotsaywhereIhadseenhimbefore——Iobservedverycalmly：
　　’Sir，Icameinherewithnootherdesignthantorefreshmyself，withoutoffendinganyman。Ihavepaidmyreckoning，andnowdesiretogoforth。IfthereisanythingwithinreasonthatIcandotosatisfyyou，andtopreventtroubleanddelaytomyself，nameyourterms，andiftheybebutfair，Iwillfranklycomplywiththem。’
　　Hequicklyreplied：
　　’YouareHardressFitzgerald，thebloodypopishcaptain，thathangedthetwelvemenatDerry。’
　　IfeltthatIwasinsomedanger，butbeingastrongman，andusedtoperilsofallkinds，itwasnoteasytodisconcertme。
　　Ilookedthensteadilyatthefellow，and，inavoiceofmuchconfidence，I
　　said：
　　’IamneitheraPapist，aRoyalist，noraFitzgerald，butanhonesterProtestant，mayhap，thanmanywhomakelouderprofessions。’
　　’Thendrinkthehonestman’stoast，’
　　saidhe。’Damnationtothepope，andconfusiontoskulkingJimmyandhisrunawaycrew。’
　　’Yourselfshallhearme，’saidI，takingthelargestpewterpotthatlaywithinmyreach。’Tapster，fillthiswithale；IgrievetosayIcanaffordnothingbetter。’
　　Itookthevesselofliquorinmyhand，andwalkinguptohim，Ifirstmadeabowtothetrooperswhosatlaughingatthesprightlinessoftheirfacetiousfriend，andthenanothertohimself，whensaying，’G——damnyourselfandyourcause!’Iflungthealestraightintohisface；andbeforehehadtimetorecoverhimself，Istruckhimwithmywholeforceandweightwiththepewterpotuponthehead，sostrongablow，thathefell，foraughtIknow，deaduponthefloor，andnothingbutthehandleofthevesselremainedinmyhand。
　　Iopenedthedoor，butoneofthedragoonsdrewhissabre，andranatmetoavengehiscompanion。WithmyhandIputasidethebladeofthesword，narrowlyescapingwhathehadintendedforme，thepointactuallytearingopenmyvest。
　　Withoutallowinghimtimetorepeathisthrust，Istruckhiminthefacewithmyclenchedfistsosoundablowthatherolledbackintotheroomwiththeforceofatennisball。
　　Itwaswellformethattherestwerehalfdrunk，andtheeveningdark；forotherwisemyfollywouldinfalliblyhavecostmemylife。Asitwas，Ireachedmygarretinsafety，witharesolutiontofrequenttavernsnomoreuntilbettertimes。
　　Mylittlepatienceandmoneywerewell-
　　nighexhausted，when，aftermuchdoubtanduncertainty，andmanyconflictingreports，IwasassuredthatthefloweroftheRoyalistarmy，undertheDukeofBerwickandGeneralBoisleau，occupiedthecityofLimerick，withadeterminationtoholdthatfortressagainsttheprince’sforces；andthataFrenchfleetofgreatpower，andwellfreightedwitharms，ammunition，andmen，wasridingintheShannon，underthewallsofthetown。
　　Butthislastreportwas，likemanyothersthencirculated，untrue；therebeing，indeed，apromiseandexpectationofsuchassistance，butnoarrivalofittilltoolate。