ADVENTURE AT THE CASTLE 47 



" Good God," said the stranger, half beneath 

 his breath; then aloud, " Eleven Irish miles." 



" Yes, sorr, there aren't any EngHsh miles in 

 these parts — ^were you going to Cloyne, sorr? " 



" Yes, I'm staying at the inn there, and I came 

 out to-day to fish a stream over there between 

 those two hills, and the fool of a fellow I took with 

 me got lost — at least he went off and never came 

 back, and I'll break his neck when I catch him." 



" Was it Billy Sheelan of the inn be any chance, 

 sorr? " 



" Yes, I beheve that was his name." 



" Then he hasn't got lost, sorr, he's got drunk. 

 This is Mr Frinch's car, and if you'll step onto it 

 I'U drive you back to Cloyne, if the young lady 

 has no objection." 



" Not in the least," said Miss Grimshaw. 



The stranger raised his cap. He was a good- 

 looking youth, well dressed, and his voice had a lot 

 of character of a sort. It was a good-humoured, 

 easy-going, happy-go-lucky voice, and it matched 

 his face, or as much of his face as could be seen in 

 the moonhght. 



" It's awfully good of you," he said. " I'm 

 dead beat — been on my legs since six ; had good 

 luck too, only I lost all my fish tumbling into one 

 of those bog holes. Just escaped with my fife 

 and my rod." He mounted on the same side of 

 the car as the girl and continued to address his 

 remarks to her as Moriarty drove on. "I beheve 

 I ought to introduce myseK. Dashwood is my 



